Which place is cheaper, Rotterdam or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Rotterdam?
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 Rotterdam can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Rotterdam?
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.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.
There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $93Rotterdam $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $93, while the average daily cost in Rotterdam is $162. 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 Rotterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Rotterdam $82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Rotterdam $164
Compare Hotels in Manila and Rotterdam
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Rotterdam? 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 Rotterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Rotterdam $28
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
- Tagaytay + Hidden Valley Springs: A Scenic Escape w/ Transfers: $200
- Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
- Adventure Awaits: Spelunking at Cavinti Cave Complex w/ Transfers: $160
- Active Taal Volcano experience 2024 (with transfers): $140
- Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $139
- Day Hike Mt. Batulao 811 meters with transfers from Manila** 2024: $130
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paranaque Private Transfer: $120
- ⭐ Manila International Airport Car Transfer To & From City⭐: $73
- Half Day Historical Manila City tour and much more with transfers: $70
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port : $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Rotterdam Airport (RTM): $38
- Rotterdam to Rotterdam Airport (RTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $60
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Amsterdam Airport (AMS): $66
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam in Sedan Car: $77
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM in Sedan Car: $81
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam by Luxury Van: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Rotterdam?
Prices for flights to both Rotterdam 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 $18Rotterdam $58
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Self-Guided Rotterdam BiteMe Food Tour: $43
- 4-Hour Food Tour - Self-guided: $48
- Guided Food Tour: $80
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $85
- Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $86
- Walking Rotterdam Food Tour: $86
- WALKING DINNER ROTTERDAM | 3 courses + 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
- Food Tour by Bike: $91
- Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $120
- Rotterdam Walking Dutch Food Tour: $153
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $161
- Private Multicultural Bike Food Tour: $274
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Rotterdam $34
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
Tours and Activities in Rotterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.
- Hightlights City Centre Walking Tour: $1.08
- 2 hour Guided Walking Tour Rotterdam: $3.23
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Rotterdam Spanish Tour 2 Hours: $3.27
- Rotterdam Walking Tour in 2 Hours : $3.27
- Escape Game and Tour: $4.31
- Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- Breda: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
- Dordrecht: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.31
- Rotterdam Walking Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.88Rotterdam $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Rotterdam
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:
- Beer Brewery Noordt Tastings with Optional Tour: $8.07
- Heineken Building former brewery | Guided Tour: $8.07
- Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Rotterdam?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?
Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Manila as well as Rotterdam. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Manila is much warmer than Rotterdam in the summer. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Manila receives a lot of rain in the summer. Manila usually gets more rain in July than Rotterdam. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Rotterdam 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Manila or Rotterdam in the Autumn?
Both Rotterdam and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Manila is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Manila in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Manila. In October, Manila usually receives more rain than Rotterdam. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Rotterdam 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Manila or Rotterdam in the Winter?
Both Rotterdam and Manila during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.
It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. In January, Manila is generally much warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 24°C (76°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Rotterdam. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Rotterdam 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Manila or Rotterdam in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Rotterdam. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Also, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city.
Manila is much warmer than Rotterdam in the spring. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Rotterdam 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Manila
| Manila | Rotterdam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.