Which place is cheaper, Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman?
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 Grand Cayman can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Grand Cayman?
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.
Grand Cayman
When people think of the Cayman Islands, they typically think of offshore bank accounts and sunny, cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more to offer travelers than a playground for the wealthy or a short stopover for cruise passengers. This tropical island is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is a shopper's heaven, a center for global finance and an ideal vacation spot.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Manila Prices
Philippines PricesGrand Cayman Prices
Cayman Islands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $99Grand Cayman $242
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $99, while the average daily cost in Grand Cayman is $242. 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 Grand Cayman in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $51Grand Cayman $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $102Grand Cayman $298
Compare Hotels in Manila and Grand Cayman
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Grand Cayman? 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 Grand Cayman Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $13Grand Cayman $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
- 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): $28
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Departure Airport Transfer in Manila Bay and Makati Area: $23
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Airport Transfer: Metro Manila → NAIA Airport (MNL): $30
- NAIA Airport Transfer to/from anywhere in Metro Manila: $31
- MNL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $13
- Amazing Taal Volcano Island Boat Tour with Transfers: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grand Cayman
Also for Grand Cayman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer - Owen Roberts Intl Airport to GeorgeTown or Seven Mile Beach: $80
- Airport Transfer to West Bay Accommodations (GCM)-Round Trip: $88
- Owen Roberts Airport GCM to George Town-Arrival Private Transfer: $147
- Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) to George Town Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $147
- Airport Transfers to East End Accommodations (GCM) - Round Trip: $239
- Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) to George Town - Round-Trip Transfer: $296
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Grand Cayman?
Prices for flights to both Grand Cayman 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 $29Grand Cayman $67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $60
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $60
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $62
- 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
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $105
- A taste of Manila's History & Filipino Culture with Buffet Dinner: $175
- Subic: Sunset Dinner Yacht Cruise from Manila & Clark: $212
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $18Grand Cayman $41
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 Full Day Tour Adventure From Manila’s History to Volcano Views: $180
- A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
- Amazing Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Tour 2in1: $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
- Banaue-Hapao Rice Terraces (Car Rental W/ Manila Tourist Driver): $300
- Cavite Leisure And Farm Tour: $170
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $71
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $85
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $39
Tours and Activities in Grand Cayman
For Grand Cayman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Diamonds and Cocktails a Shopping Experience in Grand Cayman: $10
- Bling and Beverages Cayman Jewelry Shopping Experience: $22
- Skip the Line: Guided Tour and Rum Tasting Experience: $35
- Stingray City Catamaran Sunset Tour: $59
- Stingray City Catamaran Sunset Tour: $59
- 4 Stops Tour: Stingray, Snorkeling, Starfish & 7 Mile Beach: $60
- Stingray City and Starfish Experience with Coral Reef Snorkeling: $62
- Cayman Best Stingray City Reef Snorkel and Starfish Point Tour: $63
- Stingray City Sandbar Experience: $65
- 3 Stop Boat Tour Stingray City Coral Gardens and Starfish Point: $65
- Fun Family 3 stops StingrayCity Adventure: $69
- Stingrays and Starfish Point Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.29Grand Cayman $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Grand Cayman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Grand Cayman:
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Beer$4.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Grand Cayman
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Grand Cayman:
- Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery Tour Pass Ticket Only: $24
- Taste of Cayman Distillery Experience: $75
- Distillery Tour with Gin Tasting: $75
- Cayman Art and Wine Tour: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Grand Cayman, we can see that Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Grand Cayman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Cayman 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 Grand Cayman Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Grand Cayman?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Grand Cayman. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Grand Cayman, 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 Grand Cayman?
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 Manila or Grand Cayman in the Summer?
Both Grand Cayman and Manila during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand Cayman year-round.
Grand Cayman gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Manila. Manila usually gets more rain in July than Grand Cayman. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Manila is around the same temperature as Grand Cayman in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Grand Cayman fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Grand Cayman 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Manila or Grand Cayman in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Grand Cayman. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Grand Cayman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Grand Cayman receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Manila usually receives around the same amount of rain as Grand Cayman. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Manila is around the same temperature as Grand Cayman. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Grand Cayman averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Grand Cayman 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or Grand Cayman in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as Grand Cayman. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand Cayman throughout the year.
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Grand Cayman. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Manila is generally around the same temperature as Grand Cayman. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Grand Cayman fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Grand Cayman 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Manila or Grand Cayman in the Spring?
Both Grand Cayman and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Grand Cayman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Grand Cayman. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Grand Cayman receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Manila is a little warmer than Grand Cayman in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Grand Cayman fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Grand Cayman 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Grand Cayman and Manila
| Manila | Grand Cayman | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 131 mm (5.1 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 212 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 141 mm (5.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.