Which place is cheaper, Los Angeles or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Los Angeles?
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.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $93Los Angeles $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $93, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $258. 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 Los Angeles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Los Angeles $140
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Los Angeles $280
Compare Hotels in Manila and Los Angeles
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Los Angeles? 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 Los Angeles Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Los Angeles $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- ⭐ Manila International Airport Car Transfer To & From City⭐: $73
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila APT-HTL (MNL) : $30
- Tagaytay + Hidden Valley Springs: A Scenic Escape w/ Transfers: $200
- Round-trip Coron Airport Transfer + Town Tour (Shared): $31
- Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Clark Airport (CRK) to Subic Bay Port: $46
- Private Departure Airport Transfer in Manila Bay and Makati Area: $23
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $68
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paranaque Private Transfer: $120
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
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Hotel Parking for a Day$22
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Taxi to Airport$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to LA City Center: $26
- One Way Transfer: Los Angeles from /to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) : $29
- Hollywood Private Transfer to/from Universal Studios or Burbank.: $39
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Cruise Terminal/Arrival Transfer : $63
- Cruise Terminal to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- World Cruise Center to Long Beach Airport(LGB)-Departure Transfer: $66
- Private transfer from Los Angeles airport LAX to Anheim: $67
- Sta. Monica Private Transfer To or From Los Angeles Airport/Cruise Port.: $71
- Los Angeles Cruise Center Private Transfers to or from Hollywood: $73
- Los Angeles Private Transfer to or from Long Beach.: $79
- Hollywood to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Los Angeles?
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles 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 $18Los Angeles $60
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 Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Mexican Dinner (family of 4)$32
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Burritos for Two$15
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Coffee and Danish$7.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Venice Beach Food Tour with Tastings: $75
- Santa Monica Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $82
- 3-Hour Secret Food Tour: $88
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- West Hollywood Food Tour: $89
- Venice Beach LA Food Tour: $89
- Downtown Food Tour: $89
- Venice Beach Food Tour: $89
- LA Venice Beach Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Original Downtown Los Angeles Walking Food Tour with Six Taste: $110
- Night Cruise in Marina del Rey with Dinner: $124
- Vegan African Dinner Party in Playa Del Ray: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Los Angeles $82
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- Active Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour (2in1): $135
- Bataan Death March Memorial Historical Tour : $188
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $73
- Corregidor daytour Via Manila to Bataan: $298
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $80
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- From 4-Day Sagada and Banaue Rice Terraces Tour: $342
- From Day Tour to Enchanting Hidden Valley: $160
- From Majestic Pagsanjan Falls Adventure: $160
- From Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour: $107
- From Panoramic Tagaytay Ridge Tour: $150
- From Taal Volcano Island & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour: $135
Typical Entertainment Prices in Los Angeles
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Santa Monica Pier Rides (family of 4)$37
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Bowling$13
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Hollywood Tour for Two$30
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Six Flags for 2$96
Tours and Activities in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Los Ángeles self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Gambling Built the Sunset Strip: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- Hollywood Secrets: In App Audio Tour at the Famous District: $5.00
- Gambling Built the Sunset Strip: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Chinatown Self-Guided Audio Tour (ENG): $5.40
- The Heart of Los Angeles’ Dreamland: A Self-Guide Tour in Culver City: $5.99
- LA: Broad Museum & Downtown Walk In-App Audio Tour: $7.00
- Lost Souls of Hollywood Smartphone Ghost Tour: $7.31
- Pacific Coast Hwy (LA Santa Maria): Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.31
- Lost Souls of Hollywood Blvd: a Smartphone Audio Ghost Tour: $7.99
- Beverly Hills Walking In-App Audio Tour: $9.00
- Getty Center In-App Audio Tour (ENG, ES): $9.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.88Los Angeles $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- Salsa Lesson, Burlesque and Mojitos : $149
- Salsa Lesson and Burlesque Show: $149
- Malibu: Vintage VW Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $195
- Wine Tour at Fess Parker Winery by Helicopter: $4,299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles is in North 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Los Angeles?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Los Angeles. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles?
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles in the Summer?
Both Los Angeles 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Los Angeles for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Manila is a little warmer than Los Angeles in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Los Angeles fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manila. Manila usually gets more rain in July than Los Angeles. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Los Angeles 72°F (22°C)
Should I visit Manila or Los Angeles in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Los Angeles. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Los Angeles because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Manila is a little warmer than Los Angeles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Los Angeles averages at about 64°F (18°C).
Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Manila usually receives more rain than Los Angeles. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Los Angeles 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Manila or Los Angeles in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as Los Angeles. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year.
In January, Manila is generally much warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Los Angeles. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Los Angeles 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Manila or Los Angeles in the Spring?
Both Los Angeles and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Los Angeles for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Manila is much warmer than Los Angeles in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Los Angeles fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Los Angeles 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Los Angeles and Manila
| Manila | Los Angeles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
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.