Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Manila?
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 Manila or Gili Trawangan?
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 Gili Trawangan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Gili Trawangan?
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.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Manila Prices
Philippines PricesGili Trawangan Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $106Gili Trawangan $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $106, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $40. 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 Gili Trawangan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Gili Trawangan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Gili Trawangan $46
Compare Hotels in Manila and Gili Trawangan
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Gili Trawangan? 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 Gili Trawangan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Gili Trawangan $2.65
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan
Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Speedboat transfer Between Lombok and Gili Islands: $15
- Gili Trawangan Luxury Speedboat Transfer to Bali: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Gili Trawangan?
Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan 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 $31Gili Trawangan $12
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indonesian Food Cooking Class of Gili Air: $33
- Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $33
- Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Gili Trawangan $3.82
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
Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Experience The Gili Fireshow with Cocktail: $9.75
- From Gili Islands Snorkeling Boat Tour: $15
- Group Snorkeling Tour Gili Islands Including GoPro Documentation: $15
- Gili Islands Snorkel Tour - Explore an Underwater Paradise: $16
- Gili Islands Sunset Boat Tour and Snorkeling: $17
- Cycling Tour with Snorkeling and Viewpoint: $31
- Cycling, Viewpoint & Paddle Boarding Tour: $34
- Gili Meno Horse Riding Adventure on the Beach for 1 Hour: $42
- Gili Air 1 Hour Horseback Beach Adventure: $46
- Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
- Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $62
- Mushroom Tour with Jungle Breakfast: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.90Gili Trawangan $3.53
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Gili Trawangan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan 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.