Which place is cheaper, Manila or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Manila?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Manila? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Manila?
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.
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 Eco Tours in Philippines, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $64Manila $93
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Manila is $93. 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 Saint Petersburg and Manila in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $37Manila $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $74Manila $108
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Manila
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg 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: Manila Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.42Manila $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
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Metro Passes$1.36
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Manila?
Prices for flights to both Manila and Saint Petersburg 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 daySaint Petersburg $19Manila $18
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.69
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Manila $19
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.86Manila $9.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Manila, we can see that Manila is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg is in Europe 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 Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Petersburg Expensive? and Is Manila Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Manila?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saint Petersburg. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg 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.
When is the best time to visit Saint Petersburg or Manila?
Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg or Manila in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Manila. The warm climate attracts visitors to Manila throughout the year.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Manila. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Manila averages at about 27°C (80°F).
It's quite rainy in Manila. Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in July than Manila. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Manila receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Manila 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Manila in the Autumn?
Both Manila and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Manila because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Manila. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Manila fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manila. In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Manila. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Manila receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Manila 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Manila in the Winter?
Both Manila and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round.
Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Manila in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Manila fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in January than Manila. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Manila receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Manila 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Manila in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Manila. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Manila. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Manila averages at about 29°C (84°F).
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Manila. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Manila receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Manila 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manila and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Manila | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 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.