Ji’an vs Makati
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Makati is approximately 3.3x more expensive than Ji’an based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ji’an a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ji’an has a FIRE Score of 83/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 50, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Ji’an is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowChina
Ji’an
Philippines
Makati
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Makati
Makati is the rare Asian business capital where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $646/mo and still walk to a decent cappuccino for $3. The catch is that local salaries average $607/mo, so unless you earn abroad or hold a remote contract, the math simply does not work. Expats who do arrive find a large, active community, widely spoken English, and a digital nomad score of 84/100, though the air quality index of 68 and a safety index of 70 mean this is a city you enjoy with your guard up. Pick Salcedo Village, Legaspi Village, or Rockwell Center if you want the polished version of Manila without actually living in Manila.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
Ji’an costs roughly 15.9x less than Makati. Makati scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Makati is approximately 3.3x more expensive than Ji’an based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ji’an a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ji’an has a FIRE Score of 83/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 50, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Ji’an is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Ji’an
Ji'an offers an absurdly low cost of living that makes it a standout for budget-focused expats, with a one-bedroom in the city center costing just $250 per month and a comfortable single-person budget totaling $1,800. The city's FIRE score of 85 reflects this affordability, but the trade-offs are severe: limited English, a small expat community, and fair healthcare mean you'll need to be self-sufficient and speak Chinese. Safety is middling with a 50/100 index, and the air quality is poor, so it's not a place for retirees or those seeking a cushy lifestyle. If you're laser-focused on saving money and don't mind a quiet, no-frills existence, Ji'an delivers; otherwise, look elsewhere.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$1,900/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Makati
Makati is the rare Asian business capital where a single adult can live on a budget tier of $646/mo and still walk to a decent cappuccino for $3. The catch is that local salaries average $607/mo, so unless you earn abroad or hold a remote contract, the math simply does not work. Expats who do arrive find a large, active community, widely spoken English, and a digital nomad score of 84/100, though the air quality index of 68 and a safety index of 70 mean this is a city you enjoy with your guard up. Pick Salcedo Village, Legaspi Village, or Rockwell Center if you want the polished version of Manila without actually living in Manila.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,027/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Ji’an | Makati |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $250 | $819.67 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $180 | $481.99 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $500 | $2298.01 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $350 | $1270.3 |
| Safety Index | 50 | 62.29 |
| Internet Speed | 42Mbps | 95Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Ji’an | Makati |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | N/A | $953/mo |
| Excluding rent | N/A | $471/mo |
| Rent | N/A | $482/mo |
| Groceries | N/A | $122/mo |
| Dining out | N/A | $55.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | N/A | $86.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | N/A | $151/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $57.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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