Think twice.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Manila at 35/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Philippines's national picture overall (52/100 vs 55/100).
City page · part of Philippines
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Manila report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside Philippines's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
64.6
Safety Index
35.4
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as Philippines's national page, with crime swapped for Manila's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Manila, specifically
- • Despite a reputation for crimes and congestion, Manila is relatively safe if you follow basic precautions.
- • Crime: Petty crimes are one risk, but you may get around without any hassle if you maintain common sense.
- • Theft is common, especially pickpocketing.
- • Violent crimes are just another story; locals are more likely to be targeted by robbery at gunpoint.
- • Get away from slums to avoid becoming targets of impulsive attacks by drunk thugs and drug addicts, though locals generally fall victim.
- • During rush hour, watch out for pickpockets on the crowded trains.
Legal status (national law)
Legal+ UN decl. sign.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B / C · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Tipping
Tipping is not always expected in the Philippines especially since a mandatory "Service Charge" (8–12%) is added to a restaurant or hotel bill when issued (these are not part of the listed rates). Having said that, tipping is becoming more common especially in service-oriented places like spas and salons, as well as for those who offer small favours (e.g. those who help you carry items to your veh
Cash vs. Card
The Philippine peso (or piso), ISO code: PHP, is the official currency and is the only currency used for most transactions. It is usually denoted by the symbol "₱" (prefixing prices using P without the double strike or PHP is also common, especially amongst those who type prices or amounts on their computers or phones as the "₱" symbol isn't straightforward to generate on keyboards). One peso is s
How this compares to Philippines
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Manila at 35/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Philippines's national picture overall (52/100 vs 55/100).
See the full Philippines page and all receipts →