Which place is cheaper, San Jose or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Manila or San Jose?
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 San Jose can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or San Jose?
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.
San Jose
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is likely to be your first and last stop in a visit to the country. The city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, making for a beautiful flight in. The city has an elevation of 1200 meters and sits on a plateau with a beautiful backdrop of lush green forest. Half of the people in Costa Rica reside in the country's capital city. You are likely to stay only a day or two, but there are a handful of things to do and see including museums and markets. You will also find many embassies, as well as the University of Costa Rica in San Jose.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $93San Jose $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $93, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $89. 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 San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54San Jose $48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108San Jose $96
Compare Hotels in Manila and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Manila or San Jose? 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 San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14San Jose $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- ⭐ Manila International Airport Car Transfer To & From City⭐: $73
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila APT-HTL (MNL) : $30
- Tagaytay + Hidden Valley Springs: A Scenic Escape w/ Transfers: $200
- Round-trip Coron Airport Transfer + Town Tour (Shared): $31
- Puerto Princesa Airport to El Nido Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Clark Airport (CRK) to Subic Bay Port: $46
- Private Departure Airport Transfer in Manila Bay and Makati Area: $23
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $68
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paranaque Private Transfer: $120
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
-
Taxi from SJO$25
-
Local Bus$2.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from SanJose Juan Santamaría Airport to SanJose City: $39
- Private One-way Juan Santamaria Airport Transfer to from San Jose: $41
- Transfer Costa Rica SJO Airport To OR From Hotels nearby Private : $45
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer: Alajuela and San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose City to Puntarenas Cruise Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Puntarenas Port: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) to San Jose – Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Private transfer from SJO Intl Airport to downtown Hotels: $65
- Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Jaco - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose 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
-
Food Meals for one dayManila $18San Jose $18
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 San Jose
For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bites and Sights: Walking Food Tour in San Jose, Costa Rica: $34
- San Jose By Night Tour: Farm to Table Dinner & Cocktail Class: $57
- San Jose Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and visit Gold Museum : $60
- Half-Day San Jose Evening Bus Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $76
- Explore San Jose By Night: Food and Culture Tour with Local Dinner: $80
- Dinner + Typical Show in the best viewpoint of the City: $99
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $179
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19San Jose $21
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 San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Entrance Ticket to the Farm of Hacienda Orosi: $11
- Entrance ticket to the Hacienda Orosi: $21
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Private Roasting and Cupping Coffee Experience: $30
- Sarapiqui Frog Tour: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- Poas Volcano National Park - Admission Ticket: $32
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $33
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.88San Jose $16
Sample the Local Flavors in San Jose
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
- Bar Crawl in Downtown San Jose: $38
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $85
- Bar Crawl in San Jose in a Deluxe Party Bus: $100
When comparing the travel costs between Manila and San Jose, we can see that Manila 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 San Jose is in Central America, 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 San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or San Jose?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Manila and San Jose, 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 San Jose?
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 San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose 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 San Jose year-round.
San Jose 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 San Jose. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Manila is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Manila in July average around 27°C (80°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Manila or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Jose 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 San Jose. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Manila is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 26°C (79°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as San Jose. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Manila usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Manila is cooler than San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Manila or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose 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 San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than San Jose. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Manila is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Manila in April average around 29°C (84°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Manila
| Manila | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.