Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos?
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 Quepos can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Manila Prices
Philippines PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $99Quepos $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $99, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $155. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $50Quepos $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $100Quepos $170
Compare Hotels in Manila and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $13Quepos $11
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 One-way Transfer From Manila To Manila Airport: $23
- 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
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paranaque Private Transfer: $120
- NAIA Airport Transfer to/from anywhere in Metro Manila: $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $88
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Manuel Antonio: $88
- Puntarenas city to Juan Santamaria Intl Airport(SJO)-Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $110
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO): $163
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Arenal La Fortuna: $195
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $204
- Private Transfer FROM or TO Manuel Antonio - Sierpe: $209
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to the Sierpe: $213
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings: $229
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to or from Manuel Antonio Quepos: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $29Quepos $57
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 Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $96
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $18Quepos $19
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
- Calatagan Beach Waterpark Island Hopping Adventure from Manila: $248
- 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
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park *Group tour/Park ticket NOT included: $22
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Ticket Include Private & Group Tour: $23
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour – With Ticket Option: $23
- Manuel Antonio National Park : Guided tour with TICKET INCLUDED: $23
- Manuel Antonio Guided Tour of Nature and Beaches: $25
- Manuel Antonio Nature Experience with Jeremias: $25
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour with ticket option: $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour With Ticket Option: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Guided Tour with Ticket Included Option: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.21Quepos $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Quepos?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 1340 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
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 Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos year-round.
Quepos 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 Quepos. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Manila is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Manila or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. Quepos 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 Quepos. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Manila is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as Quepos. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Manila usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Manila is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos 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 Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Quepos is December to April. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Quepos. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Manila is around the same temperature as Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Manila
| Manila | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.