Which place is cheaper, Sendai or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manila or Sendai?
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 Sendai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Sendai?
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.
Sendai
Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $94Sendai $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $94, while the average daily cost in Sendai is $105. 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 Sendai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $55Sendai $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $110Sendai $118
Compare Hotels in Manila and Sendai
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Sendai? 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 Sendai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Sendai $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- ⭐ Manila International Airport Car Transfer To & From City⭐: $72
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila APT-HTL (MNL) : $30
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
- 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 One-way Airport Transfer(Manila Airport To/From Manila): $22
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai
Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sendai Airport to/from Sendai City private transfer: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Sendai?
Prices for flights to both Sendai 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 $18Sendai $33
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 $20Sendai $18
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: $72
- 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: $338
- From Day Tour to Enchanting Hidden Valley: $160
- From Majestic Pagsanjan Falls Adventure: $160
- From Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour: $106
- From Panoramic Tagaytay Ridge Tour: $150
- From Taal Volcano Island & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour: $135
Tours and Activities in Sendai
For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Japanese Taiko Drum Experience at Sairi Yashiki : $71
- Sendai, Okama: Private tour from Sendai city to Okama: $251
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.97Sendai $11
When comparing the travel costs between Manila and Sendai, we can see that Sendai 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Sendai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Sendai?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Sendai, 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 Sendai?
Sendai 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 Sendai in the Summer?
Both Sendai 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. Also, many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Manila is generally a little warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 27°C (80°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Sendai 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 Sendai. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Sendai 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Manila or Sendai in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Sendai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Also, many visitors come to Sendai in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Manila is much warmer than Sendai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Sendai fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Sendai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Manila usually receives more rain than Sendai. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Sendai 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Manila or Sendai in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as Sendai. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Sendai can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Manila is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manila in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Sendai averages at about 2°C (35°F).
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Sendai. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Sendai 2°C (35°F)
Should I visit Manila or Sendai in the Spring?
Both Sendai and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Manila is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 29°C (84°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Sendai. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Sendai 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Sendai and Manila
| Manila | Sendai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.