Which place is cheaper, Manila or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Athens or Manila?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Manila. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Manila?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Manila
A sprawling metropolis that is home to more than 12 million people, Manila is one huge, misunderstood concrete jungle, full of diverse cultures, traffic, pollution, restaurants, shopping malls, noise and nightlife. If you're looking to soak in culture and feel the vibe of a place rather than seeking a city that specifically caters to tourists, Manila is the place to be. Capital of the Philippines, Manila is also the center for education, business, and transportation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €127Manila €86
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Manila is €86. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Manila in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Manila €50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Manila €100
Compare Hotels in Athens and Manila
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Manila? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Athens Hotel Prices and Manila Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Manila €13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer to/from Argos: $14
- Athens Hotels To Piraeus Port-Hotels Luxury Transfer Services: $22
- Private transfer between Athens hotels and Piraeus Port: $23
- From Athens Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Rafina Port: $24
- Athens Private Transfer: Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port: $24
- Mercedes Private Transfer Athens - Piraeus: $24
- Athens Private Transfer Service: Athens Hotel To / From Piraeus Port : $25
- Piraeus Port: Private One-Way Transfer to Athens City Center: $26
- Athens hotels to Piraeus port Private departure transfer: $27
- Piraeus Port Private First Class Vehicle Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $28
- The Best Welcome Transfer Airport Services : $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Full On 5-7 hours ATV Adventure Rivers-Mountains-Jungle with Transfers Manila: $280
- Tagaytay + Hidden Valley Springs: A Scenic Escape w/ Transfers: $200
- Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
- Adventure Awaits: Spelunking at Cavinti Cave Complex w/ Transfers: $160
- Active Taal Volcano experience 2024 (with transfers): $140
- Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $139
- Day Hike Mt. Batulao 811 meters with transfers from Manila** 2024: $130
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paranaque Private Transfer: $120
- ⭐ Manila International Airport Car Transfer To & From City⭐: $73
- Half Day Historical Manila City tour and much more with transfers: $70
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Manila?
Prices for flights to both Manila and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAthens €37Manila €16
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $26
- Street Food Tour Market & City Centre: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $46
- Greek Street Food Tour: $52
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $52
- Street Food Tour with Local Guide and 7 Tastings: $57
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $60
- Greek Spirits & Meze, Food Tour in Athens: $62
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Class with Meal: $64
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Manila Night Market and food tour Experience: $58
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $64
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $65
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $65
- Makati Street Food Tour Experience: $69
- Food Tour at the World's Oldest Chinatown: $75
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour Experience with Mari: $82
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $120
- Cultural Dinner and Show in Manila: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Manila €18
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.23
- Self Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour into Byzantine Gems: $4.63
- Acropolis Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.70
- 360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens: $6.00
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $6.46
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.54
- Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Agora of Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- Ancient Agora: Audiovisual self-guided tour with 3D models: $7.52
- South Slope of the Acropolis audiovisual self-guided tour: $7.52
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- Active Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour (2in1): $135
- Bataan Death March Memorial Historical Tour : $188
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $73
- Corregidor daytour Via Manila to Bataan: $298
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $80
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- From 4-Day Sagada and Banaue Rice Terraces Tour: $342
- From Day Tour to Enchanting Hidden Valley: $160
- From Majestic Pagsanjan Falls Adventure: $160
- From Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour: $107
- From Panoramic Tagaytay Ridge Tour: $150
- From Taal Volcano Island & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Manila €9.16
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $17
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Premium Wine Tastings: $36
- Greek Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $43
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $44
- Old Town Athens Wine Tasting: $53
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $54
- Greek food and wine tasting: $54
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $54
- Rare Greek Wine Tasting w/Sommelier by the Acropolis: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $61
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Manila, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Manila much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Manila is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Manila would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manila and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Manila.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Manila Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Manila?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Manila, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Manila?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Manila experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Manila in the Summer?
Both Manila and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round.
Athens is around the same temperature as Manila in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Manila fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Athens usually gets less rain in July than Manila. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Manila receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Manila 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Athens or Manila in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Manila. Many visitors come to Athens in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Manila. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Manila averages at about 26°C (79°F).
Manila receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Manila. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Manila receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Manila 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Athens or Manila in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Manila. Most visitors come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year.
In January, Athens is generally much colder than Manila. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Manila fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Athens usually gets more rain in January than Manila. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Manila receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Manila 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Athens or Manila in the Spring?
Both Manila and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Athens because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Athens is much colder than Manila in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Manila fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In April, Athens usually receives more rain than Manila. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Manila receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Manila 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manila and Athens
| Athens | Manila | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.