🇵🇭 Philippines or 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Which one, honestly
Philippines leads on the sea. Malaysia leads on food, cities and getting around.
A normal day costs about $85 in Philippines and $75 in Malaysia.
Side by side
- 🇵🇭 Philippines🇲🇾 Malaysia
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, DecBest monthsJan, Feb, Mar
- $85A normal day$75
- 14h to ManilaNonstop from London13h to Kuala Lumpur
- ExceptionalBeaches and seaVery good
- Not the drawCities and cultureVery good
- GoodFoodExceptional
- ExceptionalNature and hikingExceptional
- ExceptionalValue for moneyExceptional
- Not the drawEasy to get aroundVery good
- Domestic flights and ferries, cheap but often delayed, leave slackGetting aroundCheap flights, good trains and buses, one of the easiest countries in Asia
- The typhoon months, roughly August to OctoberWhen to avoidThe east coast islands from November to February, when most of them close
Pick by what you want
🇵🇭 Choose Philippines if
you want water and islands above everything else, on a small budget, and you can handle slow travel days.
🇲🇾 Choose Malaysia if
you want Thailand's food and beaches with a fraction of the crowds, and everything running slightly more smoothly.
Full Philippines guide →Full Malaysia guide →
And what the world thinks
🇵🇭 Philippines leads by 5 votes.
Compare something else
Written and checked by hand. Nothing here about visas or entry rules: those change often and depend on your passport, so check an official source.