Which place is cheaper, Jaco 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 Jaco?
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 Jaco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Jaco?
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.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Manila Prices
Philippines PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $98Jaco $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $98, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $133. 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 Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $50Jaco $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $100Jaco $150
Compare Hotels in Manila and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Jaco? 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 Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $13Jaco -
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 Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer SJO Airport to Jaco & Los Sueños – Safe Reliable: $80
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer between SJO Airport, Jaco Beach and Los Sueños: $145
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer: $198
- Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Uvita: $249
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco 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 $29Jaco $41
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: $51
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $51
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$4.40
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$20
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Taco Bar Dinner$10
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$7.04
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Ice Cream$6.60
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.73
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Fruit Plate$3.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk Tour and Jungle Dinner in Jaco: $89
- Taste of Costa Rica: Traditional Food Tour in Jaco: $99
- TICO Private Walking Food Tour: $107
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $18Jaco $67
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 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
- Experience Manila's Heritage: Intramuros & More in Half a Day!: $75
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$11
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Surf Lesson$55
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Bike Rental$11
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Tortuga Island Tour$109
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Massage$49
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Uvita Whale Tail Tour: $7.00
- Jaco Beach: Downtown Walking Tour with Local American Guide: $9.00
- Jungle Crocodile Safari: Tarcoles River Crocodile Tour: $40
- Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $45
- Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos: $50
- Exclusive Massage Experience in Playa Jaco Costa Rica: $59
- Guided City Bike Tour in Jaco Costa Rica: $59
- Jaco Horse Tours: $60
- Coffee Farm Tour and Sugarcane Juicing: $60
- Uvita Chocolate Tour: $60
- Jaco Beach Horseback Riding Tour: $60
- Jaco Horseback Riding Adventure Tours: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.18Jaco $36
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$16
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Night at the Bar$30
Sample the Local Flavors in Jaco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Jaco:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown Jaco: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Jaco, we can see that Jaco 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 Jaco is in Central America, 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco 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 Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Jaco?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 2560 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Jaco, 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 Jaco?
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 Jaco in the Summer?
Both Jaco 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 Jaco year-round.
Jaco 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 Jaco. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Manila is around the same temperature as Jaco in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Jaco fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Jaco 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Manila or Jaco in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Jaco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Jaco is the dry season. June to October in Jaco is the hurricane season. Jaco 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 Jaco. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Manila is around the same temperature as Jaco. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Jaco averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or Jaco in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as Jaco. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year.
Manila usually gets more rain in January than Jaco. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Manila is generally cooler than Jaco. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Jaco fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Jaco 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or Jaco in the Spring?
Both Jaco 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 Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Jaco is November to May. The hurricane season in Jaco is June to October. In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Jaco. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Jaco receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Manila is around the same temperature as Jaco in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Jaco fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Jaco 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Jaco and Manila
| Manila | Jaco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.