Makati vs Hechuan
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Makati is approximately 3.3x more expensive than Hechuan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Hechuan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Hechuan has a FIRE Score of 91/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 77, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Hechuan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowPhilippines
Makati
China
Hechuan
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.
Hechuan costs roughly 11.4x less than Makati. Makati leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Makati is approximately 3.3x more expensive than Hechuan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Hechuan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Hechuan has a FIRE Score of 91/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 77, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Hechuan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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
About Hechuan
Hechuan is a sleeper hit for cost-focused expats, with a one-bedroom in the city center running just $250/mo and a full budget lifestyle at $650/mo. The 91/100 expat score and 93/100 FIRE score speak for themselves, though the small expat community and limited English mean you'll need to bring your own social network and some Mandarin. Safety is solid at 77/100, but the air quality index of 68 will test sensitive lungs, and the nearest airport is 46 km away in Chongqing. If you want absurdly low costs and don't mind a quieter, more local scene, this is a strong play.
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
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Makati | Hechuan |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $819.67 | $250 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $481.99 | $180 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2298.01 | $500 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1270.3 | $350 |
| Safety Index | 62.29 | 77 |
| Internet Speed | 95Mbps | 80Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Makati | Hechuan |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $953/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $471/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $482/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $122/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $55.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $86.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $151/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $57.00/mo | N/A |
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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