A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manila vs. Paihia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manila or Paihia?

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 Paihia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Manila or Paihia?

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.

Paihia

Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Manila?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Manila is $106, while the average daily cost in Paihia 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 Manila and Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manila $54
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manila $108
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Manila and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Manila or Paihia? 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.

Hotels in Manila


Hotels in Paihia


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 Paihia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manila $14
    Paihia $12

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paihia

Also for Paihia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bay Of Islands - Airport Transfers: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia 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 day
    Manila $31
    Paihia $48

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manila $19
    Paihia $34

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 Paihia

For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Bay of Islands: 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $29
  • 1 Hour Scenic Bay of Islands Tour: $30
  • Bay of Islands - Mini Tour (75-90 mins): $38
  • Bay of Islands - Mini Tour: (75-90mins): $45
  • Bay of Islands 30-minute Adventure Jet Boat Trip: $52
  • Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $55
  • Sundowner Evening Cruise - 2 hour evening sailing cruise with swim stop: $57
  • Bay of Islands: Late Afternoon Sailing Cruise: $57
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $58
  • Bay of islands Waterfall Cruise Kayaking Tour: $58
  • Bay of Islands Scenic Tour : $65
  • Hole in the Rock Fast Boat Ocean Adventure: $70

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manila $9.90
    Paihia $22


When comparing the travel costs between Manila and Paihia, we can see that Manila 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. Even though Manila is in Asia and Paihia is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manila Expensive? and Is Paihia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manila or Paihia?

Manila has a larger population, and is about 5370 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Paihia, 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.