Which place is cheaper, Manila or Halong Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Halong Bay or Manila?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and Manila can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Halong Bay or Manila?
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesManila Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $67Manila $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $67, while the average daily cost in Manila is $95. 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 Halong Bay and Manila in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27Manila $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54Manila $98
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Manila
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay 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: Manila Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $14Manila $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Transfers from Ha Long City: $5.00
- Bus Transfer From Cat Ba Island To Ninh Binh/Ninh binh To Cat Ba: $19
- Transfer Ha Long and Ninh Binh by Limousine Bus: $23
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Halong Bay Full Day Cruise from Hanoi by Transfer Expressway: $42
- Full-Day Halong Bay Islands and Cave Tour by Transfer Expressway: $48
- Halong Bay Full Day With Cave, Kayaking,Swimming,Highway Transfer: $49
- Alova Premium Cruise to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip by Highway Transfer: $50
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $54
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $54
- Private Transfer from Ha Long to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $54
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Airport Transfer from Manila Airport: $96
- Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $150
- Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
- Full On 5-7 hours ATV Adventure Rivers-Mountains-Jungle with Transfers Manila: $280
- Half Day Intramuros and Distillery Experience with Transfer: $73
- METRO MANILA AIRPORT TRANSFERS | VAN: $64
- Manila Airport Transfer: $38
- Manila Airports Quality Safe and Reliable Airport Transfer: $40
- Manila Int Airport (MNL) to Manila - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
- Manila Int Airport (MNL) to Manila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $50
- Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $30
- Manila Private Airport Transfer: Comfortable & Affordable: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Manila?
Prices for flights to both Manila and Halong Bay 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 dayHalong Bay $27Manila $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Cat Ba National Park Cycling and Community Dinner Experience: $35
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $37
- Sunset and Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour in Lan Ha Bay with Dinner: $37
- Authentic Hanoi Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $39
- Luxury Ha Long Bay Yacht Dinner Cruise & Spectacular Views: $79
- From Halong Port: Luxury Dinner Yacht & Spectacular Night Views: $82
- From Ha Long City: Ha Long Bay Luxury Dinner Yacht Experience: $95
- Cooking class on floating village: $100
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $50
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $50
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $62
- Guided Food Tour of Binondo with Tastings: $65
- Street Food tour & Local Jeepney, Tuktuk Ride: $66
- Binondo Chinatown Food Tour with Free Food Samples: $70
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour with Local Guide: $71
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $105
- A taste of Manila's History & Filipino Culture with Buffet Dinner: $175
- Subic: Sunset Dinner Yacht Cruise from Manila & Clark: $212
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Manila $17
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self Guided Podcast Tour Ha Long The Black Gold of Hon Gai: $6.84
- From Cat Ba: Small Group, Lan Ha, Ha Long Bay- Kayaking Tours: $19
- Shared 6 Hours boat Tour With Cave Kayak Beach From Halong City: $20
- Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour - best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, hiking & Lunch: $23
- Cat Ba Sunset Jeep Tour Trek And Cave Exploration: $24
- Cat Ba Kayak Tour in Mangrove Forests and Explore Thien Long Cave: $24
- Lan Ha Bay Cruise Day Tour : Kayaking, Swimming, Hiking & Lunch: $25
- The Best 5 Star Halong Bay Cruise with Buffet,pool, Sunset Party: $26
- Half-Day Lan Ha Bay Adventure: Boat Jumping, Kayaking, Sunset: $26
- Top Lan Ha Bay Sunset Tours Departing from Cat Ba Island: $26
- Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise: Cave Exploration - Swim and Kayak: $27
- Lan Ha Bay Magic Sunset Boat Tour Through Breathtaking Scenery: $27
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- Skip the Line: Hike Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve Ticket: $22
- A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
- Fort Santiago Guided Tour: $25
- Explore the Urban Art of Mural and Street Art Tour: $25
- The Dessert Museum Entry Ticket: $27
- Viva Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $27
- Historical Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $30
- Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $30
- Manila night cruise, night life, foodie tour and 3d theather: $32
- Intramuros Night Bamboo Bike Tour: $34
- Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $34
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Manila $8.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and Manila, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Manila would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manila than you might in Halong Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay Expensive? and Is Manila Expensive?.
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.