Budget · Manila · Philippines
Manila on a budget
What a trip to Manila really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ernest Malsin, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Manila is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $30–$55 per person per day on a tight budget, $80–$160 mid-range and $250–$600 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in June–October.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $30–$55 a day
- Mid-range
- $80–$160 a day
- Luxury
- $250–$600 a day
- Local currency
- PHP
- Free sights
- 11
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $30–$55 | $90–$165 | $150–$275 | $210–$385 |
| Mid-range | $80–$160 | $240–$480 | $400–$800 | $560–$1,120 |
| Luxury | $250–$600 | $750–$1,800 | $1,250–$3,000 | $1,750–$4,200 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Manila, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Jeepney ride, minimum fare | about ₱13–₱15 |
| LRT or MRT single journey | about ₱15–₱45 |
| Grab car across Makati | about ₱150–₱300 |
| Silog breakfast at a canteen | about ₱100–₱200 |
| Sisig with rice at a casual restaurant | about ₱200–₱400 |
| Halo-halo | about ₱80–₱250 |
| San Miguel beer in a bar | about ₱80–₱180 |
Money-saving tips
- The National Museum complex and many churches are free.
- Eat at carinderias (canteens) and mall food courts for low-cost local meals.
- Ride-hailing fares surge at rush hour and in rain; travel off-peak where you can.
- ATMs are everywhere, but some charge fees for foreign cards; withdraw larger amounts less often.
- Hotel prices are lowest in the rainy season, from about June to October.
Free things to do
- Intramuros — The walled city founded by the Spanish in 1571 was the seat of colonial government for more than three centuries.
- National Museum of Fine Arts — In the neoclassical former Legislative Building, this museum holds Philippine art from the colonial period to the 20th century.
- Manila Cathedral — The seat of the Archdiocese of Manila has been rebuilt several times after fires, earthquakes and war; the present Romanesque Revival building dates from 1958.
- National Museum of Anthropology — Across the plaza from the Fine Arts museum, this museum traces the Philippines' pre-colonial cultures, with the Manunggul burial jar, textiles from many ethnic groups and finds from the San Diego, a Spanish galleon sunk in 1600.
- National Museum of Natural History — Housed in a restored 1940 government building, the museum is built around a central atrium with a towering 'Tree of Life' structure.
- Rizal Park (Luneta) — The large urban park beside Manila Bay is centred on the Rizal Monument, guarded by ceremonial sentries, near the spot where José Rizal was executed.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Poblacion, Makati
Old town of Makati turned bar and hostel district
$$ · Best for budget, culture and first-timers
Ermita and Malate
Old tourist belt by Manila Bay, Rizal Park and the National Museum
$$ · Best for culture, couples and quiet stays
Intramuros
The walled Spanish city, with a few heritage hotels inside the walls
Eating well for less
- Silog breakfast — 24-hour silog joints, canteens and diners all over the city.
- Taho — Street vendors in residential neighbourhoods early in the morning.
- Balut — Evening street vendors, often near bars and parks.
- Hopia and Binondo dumplings — Bakeries and dumpling houses along Ongpin Street and its side alleys in Binondo.
Getting around for less
Beep card
A stored-value contactless card used on the LRT and MRT lines and on some buses.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Manila cost?
About $400–$800 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $150–$275 on a tight budget.
+Is Manila expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. The National Museum complex and many churches are free.
+How much money do I need per day in Manila?
Roughly $30–$55 on a budget and $80–$160 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Manila?
Usually in June–October.