Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), or NAIA, is the main airport of the Philippines. The airport consists of 4 distant terminals offering different ranges of currency exchange facilities in each of them. Check what options you have and what currency exchange rate you can get at Manila Airport Terminal 3.
NAIA Terminal 3 is the busiest terminal of Manila Airport, as it receives a big number of domestic and international flights. NAIA Terminal 3 was where we landed when flying with Cebu Pacific from Bangkok (Thailand). As most local businesses still prefer cash, and it’s often the only possible payment option in the Philippines, getting local currency (Philippine Pesos - PHP) right at the airport is almost essential, as you will need cash for getting a taxi or shuttle bus to central Manila as well as for buying a local SIM card to stay connected.
NAIA Terminal 3 offers you 2 options for getting local currency:
- Withdrawal from ATM;
- Currency Exchange.
Withdrawal from an ATM might be a less cost-effective option in the Philippines, as you will not only lose on the exchange rate but also have to pay your bank’s foreign withdrawal fees and, in most cases, an additional fee for a Filipino bank.
To get the best foreign exchange rate in Manila, get a Wise Card before your trip so you can withdraw Philippine Pesos at the current mid-market rate and pay just a very small exchange fee for it. It will definitely be much cheaper than using your bank card or exchanging cash at the airport!
As currency exchange options at NAIA Terminal 3 are significantly wider, here you can expect to get better currency exchange rate than at Terminal 1 of Manila Airport. Actually, the rates here are normally as good as in the center of Manila, especially if you are bringing USD, which is still the preferred foreign currency in the Philippines.
Manila Airport NAIA Terminal 3 Money Changers
NAIA Terminal 3 money changer offices are located at the arrival area and departure level. The biggest concentration of them can be found at the arrivals area, so check there for the best exchange rates.
Here you will find currency exchange offices of these banks:
Bank of Commerce NAIA Terminal 3 is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 02:30.
Land Bank NAIA Terminal 3
Banco de Oro (BDO) NAIA Terminal 3 is open Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to midnight.
Philippine National Bank NAIA Terminal 3 is open Monday to Sunday, 24 hours.
Philtrust Bank NAIA Terminal 3
Metrobank NAIA Terminal 3
Update! Currently the branch of Metrobank at NAIA Terminal 3 seems to be closed!
Security Bank NAIA Terminal 3
Update! Currently the branch of Security Bank at NAIA Terminal 3 seems to be closed!
There are also a few currency exchange booths of independent money changers at Manila Airport Terminal 3. Some of them are open 24 hours. Just look for the sign “Foreign Exchange”, and you will notice them. However, there’s no guarantee that their rates will be better than these offered by the banks, so shop around.
Manila Airport Currency Exchange Rate at NAIA Terminal 3
Currency exchange rates offered at Terminal 3 of Manila Airport (MNL) are as good as you will get in the city, as the competition here is really high. For example, USD exchange rates are clearly advertised at every booth, and during our visit it was 51.80-51.85 PHP, and 51.85 PHP was the best USD rate we spotted in the center of Manila on the same evening.
USD exchange rates at the airport varied very little, but the same can’t be said about other currencies. So if you bring EUR, GBP, AUD, or any other less popular currency, be sure to shop around and compare the exchange rates, as they can vary quite significantly.
What currency exchange rates can be expected at NAIA Terminal 3? As you know, exchange rates vary during the day, so the best way to imagine how good the rates at the airport are is by comparing them with the mid-market rate on the day of checking. To find the current mid-market exchange rate, check here - PHP exchange rates - and you will get an idea of what to expect, as currency exchange rates will be a bit lower than that.
USD to PHP exchange rate at NAIA Terminal 3
The mid-market USD exchange rate at the time was 51.93 PHP for 1 dollar, so the rate offered at the airport (51.85 PHP/USD) was lower than the mid-market rate only by 0.08 PHP or about 0.2%. It’s definitely a superb deal that you could hardly expect to get in your home country, so bringing USD and exchanging it in the Philippines is really a great idea. As mentioned above, USD exchange rates at NAIA Terminal 3 vary only by about 0.1%, so wasting your time getting the best deal might not be worth it.
EUR to PHP exchange rate at NAIA Terminal 3
The mid-market EUR exchange rate at the time was 64.02 PHP for 1 euro, so the best rate offered at the airport (63.70 PHP/EUR at BDO) was by 0.32 PHP or about 0.5% lower than the mid-market rate. The euro exchange rate is worse than the USD exchange rate, but the difference is still much less than what your bank in Europe would charge you.
If you’re exchanging euros at Terminal 3 of Manila Airport, be sure to check around and compare the rates, as we saw the rates varying from 60.35 PHP (Landbank) to 63.70 PHP (BDO) for 1 euro, depending on the changer. Exchange 1000 EUR at the lowest rate, and you will be losing 50 EUR just for not checking at the booth a few meters away!
Exchange rates of other currencies at NAIA Terminal 3
The mid-market GBP exchange rate at the time was 73.98 PHP for 1 pound, so the best rate offered at the airport (73.10 PHP/GBP at Security Bank) was by 0.88 PHP or about 1.2% lower than the mid-market rate. GBP exchange rates varied a lot - from 68.55 PHP (Landbank) to 73.10 PHP (Security Bank) for 1 pound. Checking around for the best rates can save you more than 6% of your money.
The mid-market AUD exchange rate at the time was 40.40 PHP for 1 dollar, so the best rate offered at the airport (40.00 PHP/AUD) was by 0.40 AUD or about 1% lower than the mid-market rate. AUD exchange rates varied from 37.50 PHP (Landbank) to 40.00 PHP (BDO) for 1 dollar, depending on the bank. Again, exchanging money at the right place can save you more than 6% of your money.
Best Manila Airport Currency Exchange Rate at NAIA Terminal 3
Quite surprisingly, during our visit, the best currency exchange rate at Terminal 3 of Manila Airport was offered by the banks and not smaller money changers.
The best exchange rate for USD at NAIA Terminal 3 was offered by BDO, Landbank, and some of the smaller money changers. However, all over places offered the rate lower by only 0.1%, which is really acceptable.
The best exchange rate for EUR at NAIA Terminal 3 was offered by BDO, but there was a very long queue at the counters of this bank, so we opted for an independent money changer and got 0.1 PHP or 0.16% lower rate than we could.
The best exchange rate for GBP at NAIA Terminal 3 was offered by Security Bank. In many cases this bank was the second, just behind BDO, so it’s really worth taking a look at the rates they are offering at the time of your arrival.
The best exchange rate for AUD at NAIA Terminal 3 was also offered by BDO, and none of the other changers were even close to them.
The best exchange rates for other currencies at NAIA Terminal 3 were offered by:
- SGD to PHP – BDO (39.45 PHP/SGD)
- JPY to PHP – BDO (0.4835 PHP/JPY)
- HKD to PHP – BDO (6.55 PHP/HKD)
- CAD to PHP – BDO (40.90 PHP/CAD)
- CNY to PHP – BDO, Philtrust (8.15 PHP/CNY)
What currency exchange booth should you choose if you don’t have time to walk around the airport looking for the best deal? In our experience, the best place to exchange your currency at NAIA Terminal 3 is BDO (Banco de Oro), as they offer really fair exchange rates not only for USD but other currencies as well. The only downside of exchanging at this bank is that you might need to wait in a line a bit, as it seems to be the most popular bank at Manila Airport.
Unless you are going to exchange US dollars, skip Landbank, as they set significantly lower rates than others and even present them on paper.
Tips
To get the best foreign exchange rate in Manila, get a Wise Card before traveling.
If you will be arriving at NAIA Terminal 1 in Manila, check your options for currency exchange: Currency Exchange at NAIA Terminal 1.
Philippines SIM card can be booked online and picked up at Manila Airport without cash payments, and it's usually cheaper! Otherwise, you can get eSIM Philippines by instant email delivery.
For a trip from the airport into the city, choose NAIA Shuttle Bus Transfers for Manila or experience a more convenient transfer from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to major cities in Metro Manila by booking a private transfer here: Private NAIA Airport Transfers to Manila.
If you are flying out early in the morning or arriving late in the evening, staying overnight at one of the hotels near Manila Airport might be a good idea.
Next to NAIA Terminal 3, you can find the following very well-rated hotels:
Hilton Manila - luxury hotel set in the heart of Newport World Resorts, offering direct access to a casino, performing arts theater, movie complex, and mall, adjacent to MNL Airport and is minutes away from the city center and business districts.
Sheraton Manila Hotel - hotel located across from Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport with easy airport access via Runway Manila.
Hotel Okura Manila - luxury hotel epitomizing the essence of elegance and refined Japanese hospitality within the first integrated resort in the Philippines, the Newport World Resorts complex near Manila Airport.
Manila Marriott Hotel - Manila hotel offering contemporary elegance and well-appointed accommodations, with easy access to Terminal 3 of the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Runway Manila.
Belmont Hotel Manila - 4-star hotel within the renowned entertainment city of Newport City.
