Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Manila?
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 Manila or Melbourne?
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 Melbourne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Manila or Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Manila Prices
Philippines PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManila $106Melbourne $195
The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $106, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $195. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManila $54Melbourne $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManila $108Melbourne $238
Compare Hotels in Manila and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Manila or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manila $14Melbourne $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Manila HTL-APT (MNL): $30
- Transfers from Manila, Makati, Taguig and Pasay Hotel to Airport: $50
- Tagaytay-Pagsanjan Falls combo tour with transfers** updated 2024: $180
- 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): $29
- Private Transfer from Manila Airport (MNL) to Manila Cruise Port: $29
- Private One-way Transfer From Manila To Manila Airport: $24
- Private Departure Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- Private Arrival Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila: $98
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer: All Hotels in Ortigas: $41
- MNL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$10
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Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport: Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $16
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
- Melbourne CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer 4 or more: $32
- Melbourne Airport(Tullamarine): Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $32
- MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport: Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $33
- MEL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $40
- Melbourne Airport Private Transfer to City: $44
- Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
- Airport to City Private Transfer (One-way): $66
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $69
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $31Melbourne $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manila
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Manila.
- Ugbo Manila Street Food Tour with Tuktuk Ride: $60
- ⭐ Manila Street Food Tour in the Downtown, Eat and Drink⭐: $62
- Manila Food Tour: Explore World's Oldest Chinatown: $65
- Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food: $65
- 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
- Authentic Manila Chinatown Food Tour Exploration : $75
- Intramuros and Chinatown Food Tour with Food Samples: $80
- Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila: $120
- Day Tour in Manilas History and Savor a Cultural Dinner: $175
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.62
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Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manila $19Melbourne $27
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 Day in Paradise at Villa Escudero Coconut Plantation Adventure: $150
- A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
- Active Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Day Tour (2in1): $135
- Amazing Taal Volcano Sightseeing & Pagsanjan Falls Tour 2in1: $125
- Amazing Taal Volcano Tour (Boat Included): $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
- Bataan Death March Memorial Historical Tour : $208
- Club Crawl and Party Experience at BGC: $71
- Discover Tagaytay's Countryside: Half-Day Sightseeing Tour : $85
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.81
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.41
- Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
- Melbourne Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $13
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManila $9.90Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Manila much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manila is in Asia and Melbourne is in Pacific, 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 Manila would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Manila 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne than you might in Manila.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manila or Melbourne?
Manila has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Melbourne. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Manila is generally a little warmer than Melbournein January. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 27°C (80°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manila. Manila usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Manila gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryManila 27°C (80°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Manila or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Manila and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Manila year-round. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
Manila is much warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Manila averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in April.
Manila gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Manila usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Manila gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilManila 26°C (79°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Manila or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Manila as well as Melbourne. Manila attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Manila is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Manila in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Melbourne averages at about 9°C (49°F)in July.
Manila usually gets less rain in January than Melbournein July. Manila gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyManila 24°C (76°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Manila or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne 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, many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Manila is generally much warmer than Melbournein October. Daily temperatures in Manila average around 29°C (84°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In April, Manila usually receives less rain than Melbournein October. Manila gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberManila 29°C (84°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Manila
| Manila | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (80°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 303 mm (11.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (80°F) | 452 mm (17.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (80°F) | 357 mm (14.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.