Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Manila and Boracay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Boracay?
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.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Philippines, and The Best Budget Tours to Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $94Boracay $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $94, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $56. 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 Manila and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $55Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $110Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Manila and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Boracay? 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.Manila $14Boracay $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
- Active Taal Volcano experience 2024 (with transfers): $140
- Adventure Awaits: Spelunking at Cavinti Cave Complex w/ Transfers: $160
- Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $139
- Day Hike Mt. Batulao 811 meters with transfers from Manila** 2024: $130
- Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
- Half Day Historical Manila City tour and much more with transfers: $70
- Manila Airport (MNL): One-way Private Transfers: $57
- Manila Airport Transfer: $37
- Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $35
- Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Private Transfer: $9.80
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $22
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $26
- Departure: Speedboat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $30
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $41
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $59
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $69
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay and Manila 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 dayManila $18Boracay $14
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
- Makati Street Food Tour Experience: $63
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $63
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $65
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $65
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour Experience with Mari: $81
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $20Boracay $15
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- Guided Tour of the Historic San Sebastian Basilica (Manila): $6.42
- Historical Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $18
- Intramuros Historical Walk Tour: $27
- ⭐ Makati Bar Hopping Tour with Venus ⭐: $27
- Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $33
- Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $34
- Intramuros Manila Walking Tour with Mobile Photography: $35
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $43
- ⭐ Intramuros The Walled City Walking Tour ⭐: $45
- ⭐ Authentic Manila Chinatown Experience ⭐: $46
- Manila One-on-One Walking Tour with Mobile Photography: $50
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.32
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.03
- Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $14
- Boracay UFO Adventure: $16
- Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $16
- Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
- 2 Hours Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $17
- Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $20
- Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $21
- Stand-up Paddleboard Experience: $22
- Helmet Diving Experience with Photos and Videos: $22
- All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.97Boracay $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Boracay, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay 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 Boracay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Boracay?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 4540 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Boracay, 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.
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.