Which place is cheaper, Manila or Koh Chang?
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 Koh Chang or Manila?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Manila, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Koh Chang or Manila?
Koh Chang
Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.
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 Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Koh Chang Prices
Thailand PricesManila Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Chang $70Manila $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $70, while the average daily cost in Manila is $106. 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 Koh Chang and Manila in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Chang $28Manila $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Chang $56Manila $108
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Manila
Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang 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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices and Manila Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Chang $15Manila $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang
Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $30
- Koh Chang to BKK or DMK Airport Private Transfers : $161
- Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $229
- Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $236
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila HTL-APT (MNL): $30
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
- Tagaytay-Pagsanjan Falls combo tour with transfers** updated 2024: $180
- Safe and secure Airport Transfer Best in Manila: $216
- Quality Safe and Reliable Manila Airport Transfers: $49
- Private Transfer from Manila Cruise Port to Manila Airport (MNL): $29
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $29
- Private One-way Transfer From Manila To Manila Airport: $24
- Private Departure Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $98
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- MNL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Manila?
Prices for flights to both Manila and Koh Chang 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 dayKoh Chang $33Manila $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $62
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $65
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $65
- 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
- Authentic Manila Chinatown Food Tour Exploration : $75
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $120
- Day Tour in Manilas History and Savor a Cultural Dinner: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Chang $6.28Manila $19
Tours and Activities in Koh Chang
For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $25
- Snorkeling Adventure at Koh Chang – Departing from Koh Chang: $32
- PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $175
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- (Excursion) Day tour in Manila: $258
- A Day in Paradise at Villa Escudero Coconut Plantation Adventure: $150
- A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
- Active Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour (2in1): $135
- Amazing Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Tour 2in1: $125
- Amazing Taal Volcano Tour (Boat Included): $125
- Antipolo Day Tour with Cloud 9 and Pinto Art Museum: $80
- BAGUIO CITY DAY TOUR (FROM MANILA): $357
- BANAUE:BATAD Rice Terraces with Sagada 4D3N PRIVATE TOUR: $7,130
- Bataan Death March Memorial Historical Tour : $208
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $71
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Chang $5.38Manila $9.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Chang and Manila, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Koh Chang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Chang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Chang 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 Koh Chang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Chang Expensive? and Is Manila Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Manila?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Koh Chang or Manila in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Manila. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Manila. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Manila. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Manila receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Koh Chang is generally around the same temperature as Manila. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 28°C (82°F), and Manila fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Chang 28°C (82°F)Manila 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Manila in the Autumn?
Both Manila and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Manila. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In October, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Manila. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Manila receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Manila in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Manila fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Chang 27°C (81°F)Manila 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Manila in the Winter?
Both Manila and Koh Chang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round.
November to February is the dry season in Koh Chang. Koh Chang usually gets less rain in January than Manila. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Manila receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Manila. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Chang in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Manila averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Chang 26°C (79°F)Manila 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Manila in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Manila. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang. Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Manila. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Manila receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Koh Chang is generally around the same temperature as Manila. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 29°C (84°F), and Manila fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Chang 29°C (84°F)Manila 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manila and Koh Chang
| Koh Chang | Manila | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 513 mm (20.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 440 mm (17.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 514 mm (20.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 476 mm (18.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.