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

Should you visit Manila or Road Town?

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 Road Town can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Manila or Road Town?

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 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Road Town 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 Road Town is $355. 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 Road Town in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manila $54
    Road Town $206
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manila $108
    Road Town $412
Compare Hotels in Manila and Road Town

Looking for a hotel in Manila or Road Town? 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 Road Town


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 $14
    Road Town $33

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manila

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Manila:

  • Airport Transfer from Manila Airport: $96
  • Amazing Pagsanjan Falls with Authentic filipino lunch Plus Transfers frm manila*: $139
  • Escape to Enchanting Hidden Valley Springs! with Transfers***: $170
  • METRO MANILA AIRPORT TRANSFERS | VAN: $64
  • Manila Airport Chauffeur service Manila Airport private Transfer : $20
  • Manila Airport Transfer: $38
  • Manila Airports Quality Safe and Reliable Airport Transfer: $40
  • Manila Int Airport (MNL) to Manila - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
  • Manila Int Airport (MNL) to Manila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $53
  • Manila International Airport Private Transfer To & From City: $30
  • Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport (MNL) Private Transfer to Manila City: $30
  • Manila Private Airport Transfer: Comfortable & Affordable: $38

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Road Town

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Road Town:


  • Taxi From Airport
    $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Manila or Road Town?

Prices for flights to both Road Town 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
    Road Town $110

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
    Road Town $91

Tours and Activities in Manila

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Manila are as follows:

  • Skip the Line: Hike Eat Swim at Mount Purro Nature Reserve Ticket: $22
  • A Night in Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $23
  • Fort Santiago Guided Tour: $25
  • Explore the Urban Art of Mural and Street Art Tour: $25
  • Viva Old Intramuros Walking Tour: $27
  • The Dessert Museum Entry Ticket: $27
  • Historical Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $30
  • Old Manila Intramuros Area Walking Tour: $30
  • Manila night cruise, night life, foodie tour and 3d theather: $32
  • Guided Sunset Bamboo Bike Tour in Intramuros: $34
  • Intramuros Night Bamboo Bike Tour: $34
  • Experience Intramuros with Bamboo Bicycle - Ecotours: $37

Typical Entertainment Prices in Road Town

Here are a few typical costs in Road Town for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 1 Hr Horseback Ride in Sage Mt. Nat'l Pk
    $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manila $9.90
    Road Town $20


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manila and Road Town, we can see that Road Town 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 Road Town is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Road Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Road Town 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 Road Town Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manila or Road Town?

Manila has a larger population, and is about 1240 times larger than the population of Road Town. When comparing the sizes of Manila and Road Town, 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.