Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Cologne?
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 Cologne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Cologne?
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.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $93Cologne $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $93, while the average daily cost in Cologne is $172. 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 Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Cologne $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Cologne $194
Compare Hotels in Manila and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Cologne? 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 Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Cologne $20
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 Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne 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 $18Cologne $54
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 Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner$15
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Donner Kebab$4.29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Cologne $22
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
- Skip the Line: Hike Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve Ticket: $22
- ⭐ Makati Bar Hopping Tour with Venus ⭐: $27
- Intramuros Historical Walk Tour: $27
- Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $33
- Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $35
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $43
- ⭐ Intramuros The Walled City Walking Tour ⭐: $46
- ⭐ Authentic Manila Chinatown Experience ⭐: $46
- Manila One-on-One Walking Tour with Mobile Photography: $50
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cologne Walking Tour: The essential and unmissable one: $3.22
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Original funky-fun Free Tour of Cologne: $3.23
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.31
- Smartphone Scavenger Hunt Sightseeing Tour: $5.92
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- Horrors of World War II Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.52
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Cologne Self Guided Walking Tour Discovering the Horrors of WWII: $7.63
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.07
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.88Cologne $24
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
- Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Cologne, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Manila much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manila is in Asia and Cologne is in Europe, 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne 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 Manila Expensive? and Is Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Cologne?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Cologne, 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 Cologne?
Cologne 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 Cologne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Cologne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Cologne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Manila is a little warmer than Cologne in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Cologne fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Manila usually receives more rain than Cologne. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Cologne 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Manila or Cologne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Manila as well as Cologne. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In the autumn, Manila is much warmer than Cologne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Cologne averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Manila receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Manila usually gets more rain in October than Cologne. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Cologne 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Manila or Cologne in the Winter?
Both Cologne and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Cologne for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Cologne. In January, Manila is generally much warmer than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In January, Manila usually receives less rain than Cologne. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Cologne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Manila or Cologne in the Spring?
Both Cologne and Manila during the spring 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 Cologne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Manila is much warmer than Cologne in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Cologne fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Manila usually gets less rain in April than Cologne. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Cologne 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cologne and Manila
| Manila | Cologne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.