Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Nelson?
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 Nelson can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $94Nelson $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $94, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $94. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $55Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $110Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Manila and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Nelson? 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 Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Nelson $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Private Transfer: $9.80
- Private One-way Airport Transfer(Manila Airport To/From Manila): $22
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $22
- Private Departure Airport Transfer in Manila Bay and Makati Area: $23
- Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido Transfer: $25
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila APT-HTL (MNL) : $30
- Round-trip Coron Airport Transfer + Town Tour (Shared): $31
- Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $35
- Manila Airport Transfer: $37
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Transfer from Clark Airport (CRK) to Subic Bay Port: $46
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $18Nelson $27
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $20Nelson $24
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 Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
- SKYWIRE Experience: $67
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $76
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
- Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.97Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $97
When comparing the travel costs between Manila and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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. Even though Manila is in Asia and Nelson is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Nelson?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Nelson, 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.
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.