A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manila vs. Lake Titicaca (Puno) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manila or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Manila or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

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.

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Manila?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Manila Prices
    Philippines Prices
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Manila $106
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $70

The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $106, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $70. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manila $54
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manila $108
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Manila and Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Looking for a hotel in Manila or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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.

Hotels in Manila


Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manila $14
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:

  • MNL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $13
  • Manila Airport Chauffeur service Manila Airport private Transfer : $20
  • Private One-way Transfer From Manila To Manila Airport: $24
  • Manila Int Airport (MNL) to Manila - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
  • Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $29
  • Private Transfer from Manila Cruise Port to Manila Airport (MNL): $29
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila HTL-APT (MNL): $30
  • Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport (MNL) Private Transfer to Manila City: $30
  • Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $30
  • Manila Airport Transfer: $38
  • Manila Private Airport Transfer: Comfortable & Affordable: $38
  • Manila Airports Quality Safe and Reliable Airport Transfer: $40

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
  • Juliaca Airport Shared Transfer to/from Puno: $20
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $23
  • Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
  • Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $47
  • Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $50
  • Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
  • Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $97
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport: $97
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $212
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $222
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $229

Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Manila $31
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28

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

Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manila $19
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $31

Tours and Activities in Manila

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:

  • Skip the Line: Hike Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve Ticket: $22
  • A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
  • Fort Santiago Guided Tour: $25
  • Explore the Urban Art of Mural and Street Art Tour: $25
  • Viva Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $27
  • The Dessert Museum Entry Ticket: $27
  • Historical Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $30
  • Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $30
  • Manila night cruise, night life, foodie tour and 3d theather: $32
  • Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $34
  • Intramuros Night Bamboo Bike Tour: $34
  • Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Uros Floating Island Tour: $10
  • 3-Hour Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $13
  • Half-Day Tour to the Floating Islands of Uros: $14
  • Half Day Tour Floating Islands of Uros Puno: $15
  • Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
  • Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour: $25
  • Chullpas de Sillustani Inca Cemetery Tour by Tourist Bus: $26
  • Uros and Taquile Islands From Puno Full Day Tour with Lunch: $30
  • Tour Uros and Taquile Islands in Speedboat (full day): $31
  • Puno City Tour: $31
  • Half Day Tour to Chullpas de Sillustani From Puno: $35
  • Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manila $9.90
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Lake Titicaca (Puno) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manila is in Asia and Lake Titicaca (Puno) is in South 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manila or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

Manila has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Manila and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.