Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Manila?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Manila or Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Philippines, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $94Zhangjiajie $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $94, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $55Zhangjiajie $30
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $110Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Manila and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Zhangjiajie? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Zhangjiajie $14
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
- 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
- Nagpatong Rock Day hike + Tungtong Falls(with transfers**) 2023: $130
- Day Hike Mt. Batulao 811 meters with transfers from Manila** 2024: $130
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paranaque Private Transfer: $120
- ⭐ Manila International Airport Car Transfer To & From City⭐: $72
- Half Day Historical Manila City tour and much more with transfers: $70
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $68
- Manila Airport (MNL): One-way Private Transfers: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $18Zhangjiajie $20
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $20Zhangjiajie $23
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 Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Tianmen Mountain day tour: $96
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $115
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $122
- 1-day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge Tour: $132
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.97Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Manila would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manila than you might in Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Zhangjiajie?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Manila as well as Zhangjiajie. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Manila is generally around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 27°C (80°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Manila receives a lot of rain in the summer. Manila usually gets more rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyManila 27°C (80°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Manila or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie and Manila are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year.
Manila is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Manila. In October, Manila usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManila 26°C (79°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Manila or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie 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.
In the winter, Manila is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manila in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManila 24°C (76°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Manila or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round.
In April, Manila is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 29°C (84°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilManila 29°C (84°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Manila
| Manila | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.