Startup tech occupiers in Manila typically cluster in Ortigas Center, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out ($25000–38000/sqft), and pay around 1500 PHP/sqft ($28 USD) on Class A.
Startup tech occupiers in Manila typically cluster in Ortigas Center, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out">fit-out ($25000–38000/sqft), and pay around 1500 PHP/sqft ($28 USD) on Class A.
Startup tech occupiers in Manila typically anchor in Ortigas Center. Tech, BPO, shared services, banking back-office, professional services.
Class A rent in Manila runs 1500 PHP/sqft ($28 USD) on a 3-year lease with 5 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.
Typical startup tech fit-out targets mid specification at $25000–38000/sqft. Functional Cat-B with branded reception and standard meeting-room mix is standard.
Plan around 130 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount startups office in Manila typically targets 13,000 sqft of leasable area.
Series B–D scale-ups prioritize flexibility and signature loft stock to attract engineering talent away from incumbents. Deepest English-language BPO talent in Asia. Strong feed from University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, and a deep network of universities. Excellent neutral English accent supports North American customer-facing operations.
Headline corporate tax: 25%. Net leases. 3-5 year terms with renewal options standard. Free rent of 4-9 months on a 5-year deal.
| city | Manila |
|---|---|
| industry | Startup tech |
| naics | 541511, 541512, 518210 |
| preferredSubmarket | Ortigas Center |
| preferredFitoutSpec | Mid |
| fitoutBand | $25000–38000/sqft |
| sqftPerSeat | 130 |
| classARentLocal | 1500 PHP/sqft/yr |
| classARentUsd | $28/sqft/yr |
| vacancyPct | 22.6% |
| typicalLeaseYears | 3 |
| typicalRentFreeMonths | 5 |
| talentIndex | 76 |
| corporateTaxPct | 25% |
Reviewed by Kenji Watanabe — APAC contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.