Prices last checked: Oct 27, 2026
Cheapest US departure cities for Manila right now
Every route into MNL we checked in the last week, cheapest first. Each fare is for the month and sample dates shown.
| From | Round trip | Checked | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFKNew YorkCHEAPEST | $1,708 | Oct 27 | Set a free alert |
| IAHHouston | $1,878 | Oct 27 | Set a free alert |
| ORDChicago | $2,002 | Oct 27 | Set a free alert |
| EWRNewark | $2,083 | Oct 27 | Set a free alert |
| AUSAustin | $2,146 | Oct 27 | Set a free alert |
| DTWDetroit | $2,219 | Oct 27 | Set a free alert |
Observed fares from Wildly's daily check, snapshot Oct 27. Round trip, economy, for the sample dates shown; not an estimate and not a bookable offer. How we check fares
Origin guides: flights from New York, flights from Houston, flights from Chicago, flights from Newark, flights from Austin, flights from Detroit
When to go to Manila and what it costs
The next twelve months. Weather and crowds are from our destination research; the fare is the lowest round trip we observed for that month on any US route we check.
- October 2026no observation yet
- Weather
- 88°F high, 75°F low, 16 rain days
- Crowds
- low
Rain eases gradually in the second half of the month — a genuinely transitional period. October visits are a gamble but can pay off with low prices and fewer crowds. - November 2026Best month per research$889from ORD, checked Oct 23
- Weather
- 88°F high, 74°F low, 10 rain days
- Crowds
- medium
Wet season winds down and the city feels noticeably fresher. Christmas decorations go up as early as September 1 and by November the malls are in full holiday mode. - December 2026Best month per research$1,878from IAH, checked Oct 27
- Weather
- 86°F high, 72°F low, 6 rain days
- Crowds
- very high
Excellent weather returns and Manila gets festive — the Philippines takes Christmas seriously and the city lights up with elaborate displays. Last two weeks see a surge in domestic travel. - January 2027Best month per research$989from ORD, checked Oct 23
- Weather
- 87°F high, 70°F low, 3 rain days
- Crowds
- high
Peak dry season with low humidity and clear skies — Manila's most pleasant month. Occasional cool northeast winds make evenings genuinely comfortable. - February 2027Best month per research$821from EWR, checked Oct 22
- Weather
- 88°F high, 69°F low, 2 rain days
- Crowds
- high
Driest month of the year with nearly zero rain and blue skies daily. Daytime heat is manageable and nights are refreshingly cool for the tropics. - March 2027Best month per research$821from EWR, checked Oct 22
- Weather
- 91°F high, 73°F low, 3 rain days
- Crowds
- medium
Still dry but temperatures begin climbing noticeably. Humidity starts building and the city feels warmer, especially inland and in traffic. - April 2027$858from ORD, checked Oct 23
- Weather
- 95°F high, 77°F low, 4 rain days
- Crowds
- medium
Hottest month of the year — brutal midday heat with high humidity. Holy Week brings the city to a near-standstill as Manileños exodus to the provinces. - May 2027no observation yet
- Weather
- 94°F high, 78°F low, 10 rain days
- Crowds
- low
Transition month with the first rains arriving and offering some heat relief. Afternoon thunderstorms become common but mornings are still manageable. - June 2027no observation yet
- Weather
- 89°F high, 77°F low, 18 rain days
- Crowds
- low
Official wet season start — heavy afternoon downpours are daily and flooding in low-lying areas is common. Bring an umbrella everywhere. - July 2027Worst month per researchno observation yet
- Weather
- 87°F high, 76°F low, 22 rain days
- Crowds
- low
Peak typhoon risk month with sustained heavy rain and periodic flooding. Outdoor plans should be flexible and storm tracking apps are essential. - August 2027Worst month per researchno observation yet
- Weather
- 87°F high, 75°F low, 22 rain days
- Crowds
- low
Still peak typhoon season with as much or more rain as July. Streets flood regularly and some tourist sites may close unexpectedly. - September 2027Worst month per researchno observation yet
- Weather
- 87°F high, 75°F low, 20 rain days
- Crowds
- low
Typhoon risk remains high and rain is still heavy, though there are more clear spells than August. Cheapest hotel rates of the year.
Observed fares from Wildly's daily check, snapshot Oct 27. Round trip, economy, for the sample dates shown; not an estimate and not a bookable offer. How we check fares
Weather, crowds and best months: Wildly destination research.
Routes we watch into MNL
Each route page has the daily fare, a fare-by-month calendar and price history where we have it.
- JFKNew York$1,708
- IAHHouston$1,878
- ORDChicago$2,002
- EWRNewark$2,083
- AUSAustin$2,146
- DTWDetroit$2,219
- SFOSan Franciscono fare this week
- SEASeattleno fare this week
- MCOOrlandono fare this week
- PDXPortlandno fare this week
- SLCSalt Lake Cityno fare this week
- PHLPhiladelphiano fare this week
- BWIBaltimoreno fare this week
- PHXPhoenixno fare this week
- DCAWashington D.C.no fare this week
US departure cities for Manila
Origin guides for the cities with a tracked route to MNL. Each lists the cheapest live fares from that airport.
Estimate: modelled from route distance and region, not an observed fare. Observed fares, where we have them, are in the sections above.
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Estimated prices from all US cities (estimate)
Estimate: modelled from route distance and region, not an observed fare. Observed fares, where we have them, are in the sections above.
| From | Airport | Est. Price | Flight Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LOWEST EST.Seattle | SEA | $615 | ~14h | View → |
Portland | PDX | $620 | ~14h | View → |
San Francisco | SFO | $645 | ~15h | View → |
Los Angeles | LAX | $674 | ~16h | View → |
Salt Lake City | SLC | $678 | ~16h | View → |
Las Vegas | LAS | $682 | ~16h | View → |
San Diego | SAN | $684 | ~16h | View → |
Phoenix | PHX | $705 | ~16h | View → |
Denver | DEN | $709 | ~16h | View → |
Minneapolis | MSP | $722 | ~17h | View → |
Chicago | ORD | $751 | ~17h | View → |
Detroit | DTW | $760 | ~17h | View → |
St. Louis | STL | $761 | ~17h | View → |
Dallas | DFW | $768 | ~18h | View → |
Austin | AUS | $778 | ~18h | View → |
Boston | BOS | $780 | ~18h | View → |
Newark | EWR | $786 | ~18h | View → |
New York | LGA | $786 | ~18h | View → |
New York | JFK | $786 | ~18h | View → |
Nashville | BNA | $786 | ~18h | View → |
Houston | IAH | $788 | ~18h | View → |
Philadelphia | PHL | $789 | ~18h | View → |
Baltimore | BWI | $791 | ~18h | View → |
Washington D.C. | DCA | $792 | ~18h | View → |
Atlanta | ATL | $805 | ~18h | View → |
Charlotte | CLT | $805 | ~18h | View → |
Tampa | TPA | $842 | ~19h | View → |
Orlando | MCO | $843 | ~19h | View → |
Fort Lauderdale | FLL | $859 | ~20h | View → |
Miami | MIA | $860 | ~20h | View → |
San Juan | SJU | $935 | ~21h | View → |
About Manila
Manila is one of Southeast Asia's most misunderstood cities — Americans often use it as a layover hub for Palawan or Boracay, not realizing the capital itself is worth 3-4 dedicated days. The city is chaotic, loud, deeply Catholic, and genuinely fascinating. You'll find a 16th-century Spanish walled city (Intramuros) blocks away from gleaming BGC skyscrapers, and world-class Japanese and Korean dining that costs a fraction of what it does back home. Manila rewards travelers who lean into the disorder rather than fighting it.
The food scene alone justifies the trip. Manila has arguably the best Filipino food accessible to Americans anywhere — lechon from Rico's, crispy pata at Aristocrat, kare-kare in Malate, and a Chinatown (Binondo) that locals insist is the oldest in the world, with pork dumplings and hopia that have no equivalent in any US Filipino restaurant. The craft cocktail scene in BGC and Poblacion rivals Bangkok and Singapore at half the price, with bars like Agimat and The Curator drawing serious attention.
Practicalities: Manila's traffic is legendarily bad. A 5-mile trip can take 90 minutes during rush hour. Build this into every plan. The metro system (MRT-3) is cheap and air-conditioned but overcrowded. Grab (the local Uber) is essential — dollar-cheap, reliable, and the only way a visitor should navigate point-to-point. English is universal; literally everyone speaks it, which makes Manila one of the easiest-to-navigate major cities in Asia for Americans. The peso exchange rate in 2025-2026 runs around 56-58 PHP per USD, making even mid-range restaurants feel almost free.
Most Americans flying to the Philippines connect through Manila anyway, so the question is whether you add days at the start or end of your trip. Add them at the end — you'll be too eager to hit the beaches on arrival, and Manila will make more sense after you've seen the country. Skip the airport hotels near Terminal 1 and 3 and stay in BGC or Makati, which are 30-45 minutes from NAIA but feel like entirely different cities.
Best Time to Fly to Manila
Click any month for the destination guide's weather, crowd, and festival notes.
Airport to City: How to Get There
Option 1 — Grab (ride-hailing): The only realistic option for most travelers. From NAIA Terminals 1-4 to BGC expect ₱350-600 (~$6-10) and 30-60 minutes without traffic, up to 90 minutes during rush hour (7-9am, 5-8pm). Book inside the terminal through the app before stepping outside. Option 2 — NAIA Expressway/Airport Taxi: Official metered airport taxis at designated queues outside each terminal; rates run ₱400-700 to Makati or BGC. Avoid unlicensed touts who will quote ₱2,000+. Option 3 — Airport Express Bus (PH-BUS): ₱100 flat fare running from all terminals to several Makati and BGC stops; slow but air-conditioned and budget-friendly for solo travelers with light luggage. The MRT-3 is not directly accessible from NAIA — you'd need a tricycle or jeepney to reach it first, which isn't worth the complexity.
Neighborhoods & Where to Stay
Manila's most livable district — wide sidewalks (a rarity), reliable power, zero street flooding, and a concentration of great restaurants and bars. Stay here for The Shangri-La BGC, Seda BGC, or boutique options like Z Hostel if budget-conscious. Poblacion in neighboring Makati is a 10-minute Grab away for nightlife.
The original business and upscale district, with Ayala Center malls, Greenbelt restaurants, and solid mid-range hotels like Acacia Hotel and Citadines Salcedo. Less polished than BGC but more authentic, with great street food on Pasong Tamo and a walkable evening scene in Legazpi Village.
Manila's trendiest nightlife neighborhood — a dense grid of craft cocktail bars, live music, and international restaurants packed into a few walkable blocks. Bars like Agimat (Filipino botanicals-focused cocktails), The Curator, and XX XX are here. Stay in a Poblacion Airbnb to be in the middle of the action.
The historic core of Spanish-era Manila with Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, and the best walking history in the city. Budget hotels and guesthouses cluster in nearby Ermita, including the long-running Pension Natividad. Convenient for sightseeing but not the safest area after dark — take Grab rather than walking at night.
The oldest Chinatown in the world, dating to 1594 — a chaotic, sensory-overloading neighborhood that's essential for food tourism. Go for the Binondo Food Wok tour or just wander Ongpin Street eating hopia, siopao, and fried kikiam. Not a place to stay but absolutely a place to eat lunch.
Daily Budget: What to Expect
$12 dorm bed at Z Hostel BGC or Wanderers Guest House, $15 food (two local meals at carinderia + one sit-down, eating sisig and rice for ₱150-200 per meal), $8 Grab rides, $10 entry fees to Intramuros or National Museum (many are free)
$65 hotel room at Acacia Hotel Makati or Citadines BGC, $40 food (breakfast at hotel, lunch at a mid-range Filipino restaurant like Señor Pollo, dinner at Greenbelt with a few San Miguels), $15 Grab rides around the city, $10 activities
$250 room at Shangri-La BGC or Manila Hotel (the historic bay-view rooms), $80 food (breakfast buffet, lunch at Gallery Vask or Metronome, dinner with wine at Raintree restaurants), $30 Grab or hired car, $40 spa session or rooftop bar tab
What to Eat in Manila
Lechon at Rico's Lechon (multiple locations in Makati and BGC) — whole-roasted suckling pig with crackling skin so thin it shatters like glass. Order the Cebu-style with herbs, not the Luzon version. ₱420 for a plate with rice and liver sauce.
Binondo food walk starting with pancit lomi at Masuki Mami House on Benavidez St — thick egg noodles in pork broth, open since 1945, ₱120 a bowl. Follow it with warm hopia (mung bean pastry) from Eng Bee Tin next door.
Kare-kare at Aristocrat Restaurant (Roxas Blvd) — the 1936 classic, a peanut-thickened oxtail stew served with bagoong (shrimp paste) and a mountain of eggplant and banana blossom. Order the balbacua on weekends when available.
Sizzling sisig at any no-frills beer garden in Malate — chopped pork face, ears, and liver with chili and calamansi on a cast-iron skillet, served still crackling at the table. The dish was invented in Pampanga but Manila's versions are excellent. ₱180-220 with beer.
Halo-halo at Razon's of Guagua (multiple Manila branches) — the Kapampangan version is simpler and better than tourist versions: shaved ice with macapuno, langka, and leche flan, no artificial colors. ₱120-160. Go at 10am before the ice runs out on hot days.
Flying from the US to Manila
Airlines & Routes
- →Philippine Airlines nonstop from Los Angeles (LAX) — the only true nonstop from the US, roughly 14.5 hours westbound
- →United Airlines via Tokyo Narita (NRT) from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston
- →Japan Airlines via Tokyo Haneda (HND) from multiple US cities
- →Korean Air via Seoul Incheon (ICN) from Los Angeles, New York, and other hubs
- →Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (HKG) from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York
- →EVA Air via Taipei (TPE) from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York
- →China Airlines via Taipei (TPE) from Los Angeles and San Francisco
- →Singapore Airlines via Singapore (SIN) from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Houston
Flight Duration
Safety Tips
Manila is safe for tourists in the tourist districts but requires basic urban awareness. BGC is essentially crime-free — it has private security throughout and feels like a controlled environment. Makati's Ayala and Greenbelt areas are equally safe. The areas to avoid after dark are Tondo, Divisoria, and parts of Quiapo; don't wander there without a local. Never take unlicensed taxis or motorcycles offered by strangers outside the airport — use only Grab or official airport taxi queues. Pickpocketing on the MRT is real; keep your phone in your front pocket and your bag in front of you. Political protests occasionally occur near Mendiola Bridge near Intramuros — check news before visiting that area. Tap water is not safe to drink; buy bottled or use the free water refill stations at malls. Medical care at St. Luke's BGC or Makati Medical Center is genuinely excellent and cheap by American standards — a doctor visit runs ₱500-1,500. Scopolamine (drug-spiking) incidents have been reported in some tourist bars in Malate; stick to Poblacion or BGC nightlife where the bars are legitimate businesses.
Book Philippine Airlines' nonstop LAX-MNL specifically on the A350 routing and request seats 30A or 30K — the last row before premium economy, which has no seat reclining into you from behind and direct access to the rear galley where crew are generous with snacks on the 14-hour flight. More importantly: exchange money at a Sanry's Money Changer inside Robinsons Galleria or Greenbelt mall, not at the airport. Airport rates are 5-8% worse than mall money changers, and the difference on $500 is meaningful. Never use hotel front desks for currency exchange — the rates are criminal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US city has the cheapest flights to Manila right now?
New York (JFK): $1,708 round trip for December on American / Philippine Airlines, checked Oct 27. That was the lowest of 6 US routes into MNL in our daily check.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Manila?
February 2027 had the lowest observed fare: $821 round trip from EWR, checked 2026-10-22. Months without an observation are marked as such in the grid above; we do not estimate them.
What is the best time to visit Manila?
January, February, March, November, December per Wildly destination research, based on weather and crowd levels rather than airfare. The months it rates worst are July, August, September.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Manila?
US passport holders receive a free 30-day visa on arrival at NAIA, no pre-registration or e-visa required as of 2026 — just show your passport and onward ticket. This can be extended at any Bureau of Immigration office for ₱3,030 for an additional 29 days (making it 59 days total), then again up to a maximum of 36 months total stay. The Bureau of Immigration in Intramuros handles extensions; arrive early or use an accredited travel agent to avoid multi-hour lines. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. There is no arrival card requirement as of 2024 — the paper forms were eliminated. Confirmed return or onward ticket is technically required and immigration officers do occasionally ask for it. Source: Wildly destination research; verify with the destination's official immigration authority before booking.
How long is the flight from the US to Manila?
East Coast: 20-24 hours with connection via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, or Hong Kong from JFK, BOS, or MIA. Midwest: 18-22 hours with connection via Tokyo, Seoul, or Taipei from ORD or DFW. West Coast: 14.5 hours nonstop on Philippine Airlines from LAX; 16-18 hours with connection via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei from LAX, SFO, or SEA. Source: Wildly destination research.
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