Which place is cheaper, Rome or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Rome?
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 Rome can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Rome?
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.
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $93Rome $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $93, while the average daily cost in Rome is $182. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Rome $95
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Rome $190
Compare Hotels in Manila and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Rome? 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 Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Rome $23
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.14
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Train to the Airport$16
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Taxi to Airport$48
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: $6.46
- Bus Transfer Between Airport and Rome Termini Station: $6.46
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Fiumicino Airport: $7.53
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome center: $7.64
- Transfer Rome center - Ciampino Airport: $7.64
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $11
- Transfer from Termini Station to the Maximo Shopping Center: $15
- Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer: $16
- Transfer between Fiumicino Airport and Rome Termini: $17
- Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) to Rome - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Rome to Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Private Departure Transfer: Rome Hotels to Train Station: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $18Rome $51
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 Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$15
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.20
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Cafe e doce$4.29
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Pizza (Fast Food)$2.84
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$34
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Cheese and bread$11
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Espresso$2.14
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Dinner$62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $16
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $17
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Vatican Street Food Tour around the Biggest Fresh Market in Rome: $32
- Roman Master Chef Cooking Class with Wine: $37
- Roman Dinner & History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $37
- Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $38
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $43
- Painting and Pizza Party in Rome: $43
- Pub Crawl and Ultimate Party with Open Bar and Pizza: $43
- Tiber River Urban Rafting Tour with Roman Pizza: $43
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Rome $39
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: $33
- Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $35
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $43
- ⭐ Intramuros The Walled City Walking Tour ⭐: $46
- ⭐ Authentic Manila Chinatown Experience ⭐: $46
- Manila One-on-One Walking Tour with Mobile Photography: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$74
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$35
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Roma Pass$32
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$21
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Segway Tour$80
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cambridge: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Bergamo Old Town: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.26
- Shared 4 Hours Guided tour of the House of the Emperor Hadrian: $5.11
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.34
- Bergamo Old Town: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.38
- Rome Walking Tour Including the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain: $5.45
- Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Tour Rome: $5.45
- Vatican Night Tour - Rome: $5.45
- Twilight Treasures: An Evening Tour Through Rome's Rich History: $5.45
- Civitavecchia's Stories and Secrets: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- An insider's look at A Self-Guided Audio Tour : $5.61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.88Rome $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$6.96
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Pint of Beer$6.79
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Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $38
- The Best Wine Tasting in Trastevere with food pairing and Gelato: $49
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $54
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $55
- Agricultural Brewery Tour in the Roman Countryside: $55
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $68
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $69
- Rome by Night-Ebike tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $70
- Taste of Tuscany: Food & Wine tour with Florentine Steak: $74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome is in Europe, 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Rome?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Rome, 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 Rome?
Rome 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 Rome in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Rome. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Manila is around the same temperature as Rome in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Manila usually receives more rain than Rome. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Rome 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Manila or Rome in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Manila as well as Rome. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Rome for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Manila is much warmer than Rome. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Rome averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Manila receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Manila usually gets more rain in October than Rome. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Rome 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Manila or Rome in the Winter?
Both Rome and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Rome because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Manila is generally much warmer than Rome. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In January, Manila usually receives less rain than Rome. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Rome 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Manila or Rome in the Spring?
Both Rome 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. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
Manila is much warmer than Rome in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Manila usually gets less rain in April than Rome. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Rome 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Rome and Manila
| Manila | Rome | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.