Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Nanjing?
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 Nanjing can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $94Nanjing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $94, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $55Nanjing $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $110Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Manila and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Nanjing? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Nanjing $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Full On 5-7 hours ATV Adventure Rivers-Mountains-Jungle with Transfers Manila: $280
- Active Taal Volcano experience 2024 (with transfers): $140
- Adventure Awaits: Spelunking at Cavinti Cave Complex w/ Transfers: $160
- Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $139
- Day Hike Mt. Batulao 811 meters with transfers from Manila** 2024: $130
- Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
- Half Day Historical Manila City tour and much more with transfers: $70
- Manila Airport (MNL): One-way Private Transfers: $57
- Manila Airport Transfer: $37
- Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $35
- Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Private Transfer: $9.80
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Huangshan Tunxi International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $20
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer from City Center: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer to Nanjing City from Railway Station : $32
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Nanjing Any Railway Station: $34
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
- Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
- Private Departure Transfer from Nanjing City Center to Lukou Int'l Airport: $45
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer to Lukou International Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $18Nanjing $28
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
- Makati Street Food Tour Experience: $63
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $63
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $65
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $65
- Food Tour at the World's Oldest Chinatown: $75
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour Experience with Mari: $81
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $120
- Cultural Dinner and Show in Manila: $145
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $20Nanjing $9.27
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- Guided Tour of the Historic San Sebastian Basilica (Manila): $6.42
- Historical Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $18
- Skip the Line: Hike Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve Ticket: $22
- ⭐ Makati Bar Hopping Tour with Venus ⭐: $27
- Intramuros Historical Walk Tour: $27
- Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $32
- Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $34
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $43
- ⭐ Intramuros The Walled City Walking Tour ⭐: $45
- ⭐ Authentic Manila Chinatown Experience ⭐: $46
- Manila One-on-One Walking Tour with Mobile Photography: $50
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $70
- Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
- Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
- Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
- Half-Day Nanjing Purple Mountain Private Tour in Your Way: $94
- Yangzhou Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver Service : $94
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- Nanjing Private Flexible Day Tour with Ancient and Modern History: $119
- Half-Day Private Customized Nanjing City Tour: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.97Nanjing $9.46
When comparing the travel costs between Manila and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Nanjing?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Nanjing. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Nanjing, 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 Nanjing?
Nanjing 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 Nanjing in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Nanjing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round.
In July, Manila is generally around the same temperature as Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 27°C (80°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
Nanjing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Manila usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Nanjing 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Manila or Nanjing in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Manila as well as Nanjing. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Manila is much warmer than Nanjing in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Nanjing fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Manila receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Manila usually gets more rain in October than Nanjing. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Nanjing 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Manila or Nanjing in the Winter?
Both Nanjing and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Nanjing. In the winter, Manila is much warmer than Nanjing. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manila in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Nanjing averages at about 3°C (37°F).
In January, Manila usually receives less rain than Nanjing. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Nanjing 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Manila or Nanjing in the Spring?
Both Nanjing and Manila during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Manila is generally much warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 29°C (84°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Manila usually gets less rain in April than Nanjing. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Nanjing 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Nanjing and Manila
| Manila | Nanjing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 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.