Which place is cheaper, Manila or Nairobi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nairobi or Manila?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Manila can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Manila?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesManila Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $68Manila $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Manila is $99. 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 Nairobi and Manila in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Manila $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Manila $100
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Manila
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Manila? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Manila Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Manila $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer in Nairobi Kenya: $20
- Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $20
- Private Airport Transfers To or From Nairobi Airports.: $25
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Nairobi Airport One Way Private Transfer: $27
- Beyond Boundaries Tours and Transfers: $30
- From Wilson Airport Nairobi Private Transfer in a Car 3 Pax: $30
- Safe Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $30
- Nairobi Airport One Way Transfers: $30
- Professional Airport Transfer Service in Nairobi: $33
- From JKIA Airport Nairobi Private Transfer in a Car 3 Pax Max: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
- Safe and secure Airport Transfer Best in Manila: $216
- Quality Safe and Reliable Manila Airport Transfers: $49
- Private Transfer from Manila Cruise Port to Manila Airport (MNL): $28
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $28
- Private One-way Transfer From Manila To Manila Airport: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Airport Transfer: Metro Manila → NAIA Airport (MNL): $30
- NAIA Airport Transfer to/from anywhere in Metro Manila: $31
- MNL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $13
- Amazing Taal Volcano Island Boat Tour with Transfers: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Manila?
Prices for flights to both Manila and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Manila $29
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- Safari Park Dinner with Safari Cats Dance Show: $97
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Nairobi National Park Afternoon Game Drive/ Dinner Carnivore Restaurant: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $51
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $51
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $62
- Guided Food Tour of Binondo with Tastings: $65
- Street Food tour & Local Jeepney, Tuktuk Ride: $66
- Binondo Chinatown Food Tour with Free Food Samples: $70
- Manila Chinatown Food Tour with Local Guide: $71
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $105
- A taste of Manila's History & Filipino Culture with Buffet Dinner: $175
- Subic: Sunset Dinner Yacht Cruise from Manila & Clark: $212
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Manila $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
- Kibera Slum Cultural and Community Walking Tour: $15
- Ankara Fabric Shopping and Same Day Tailoring Experience: $17
- Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
- Nairobi City Tour +Pickup: $19
- Kibera Community Tour with Local Guide MC Dawn: $20
- Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
- Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
- Nairobi History and Modern Culture Walking Tour: $22
- Kibera Chocolate City Tour: $22
- Kibera Slum Compassionate Walking Experience 3 Hours: $23
- Cultural Discovery Tour of Unfiltered Mathare: $24
Tours and Activities in Manila
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:
- (Excursion) Day tour in Manila: $258
- A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
- Amazing Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Tour 2in1: $125
- Antipolo Day Tour with Cloud 9 and Pinto Art Museum: $80
- BAGUIO CITY DAY TOUR (FROM MANILA): $357
- BANAUE:BATAD Rice Terraces with Sagada 4D3N PRIVATE TOUR: $7,130
- Banaue-Hapao Rice Terraces (Car Rental W/ Manila Tourist Driver): $300
- Cavite Leisure And Farm Tour: $170
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $71
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $68
- Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $39
- Experience Manila's Heritage: Intramuros & More in Half a Day!: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Manila $9.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Manila, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Nairobi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Manila is in Asia, 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 Nairobi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nairobi 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 Nairobi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Manila Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Manila?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nairobi. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Manila, 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.
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.