Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Budapest?
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 Budapest can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Budapest?
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.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $93Budapest $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $93, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $91. 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 Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Budapest $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Manila and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Budapest? 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 and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Budapest $11
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest One Way Private Transfer to or from Airport: $14
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- One way private transfer from Budapest hotels to Budapest cruise ports: $26
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Transfer from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Hotel: $38
- Hotel to Liszt Ferenc Airport departure Transfer: $38
- Budapest Airport transfer from City Center to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $39
- Budapest Airport transfer from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to City Centre: $39
- Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
- Euroring Old Timer Museum Ticket & Hotel Transfers: $44
- Transfer to/from Budapest Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest 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 $18Budapest $23
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
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Budapest $22
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.28
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Original Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.28
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.92
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.92
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Discovering Budapest's hot pools and heroes: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.88Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When comparing the travel costs between Manila and Budapest, we can see that Manila is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Manila is in Asia and Budapest is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Budapest?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Budapest, 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 Manila or Budapest?
Budapest 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 Manila or Budapest in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Manila as well as Budapest. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
In July, Manila is generally a little warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 27°C (80°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Manila receives a lot of rain in the summer. Manila usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Manila or Budapest in the Autumn?
Both Budapest and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Manila is much warmer than Budapest in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite rainy in Manila. In October, Manila usually receives more rain than Budapest. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Manila or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Manila during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Budapest in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Budapest can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Manila is much warmer than Budapest. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manila in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Budapest averages at about -1°C (31°F).
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Budapest. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Manila or Budapest in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Budapest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Also, most visitors come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Manila is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 29°C (84°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Budapest. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Manila
| Manila | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.