Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ayutthaya or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Melaka? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ayutthaya or Melaka?
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
Melaka
Melaka (or Malacca) is a large city on the western coast of Malaysia about half way between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This historical city grew up as a result of trading in the region due to its position on the namesake Straights of Malacca, a natural waterway formed from the peninsula of Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAyutthaya $71Melaka $25
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $71, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $25. 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 Ayutthaya and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAyutthaya $24Melaka $9.70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAyutthaya $48Melaka $19
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya or Melaka? 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.
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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ayutthaya $31Melaka $2.13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing$0.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $109
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.85
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Bus Ride$0.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Seremban city: $39
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
- Melaka Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Van Transfer: $62
- Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $67
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $67
- Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $74
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Taman Negara Transfer [Van]: $82
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Desaru Transfer [Van]: $87
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Ayutthaya 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
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Food Meals for one dayAyutthaya $23Melaka $12
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$4.32
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Ice Cream$0.93
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Breakfast for 2$4.32
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Breakfast for 2$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $27
- Eat like a local Food tour, with small group: $69
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.27
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.15
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.45
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.21
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ayutthaya $30Melaka $4.11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)$6.18
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Wat Entrance$1.54
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $187
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $39
- Ayutthaya Full-Day Tour with Bang Pa In (Summer Palace): $60
- Ayutthaya Private Guided Day Tour, 4 Ancient Temples: $113
- Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $646
- Ancient City Temple Tour: $172
- Private 1 hour Boat tour Pa Sak River: $90
- UNESCO Heritage Temples and Cafe Day Tour: $69
- BKK: Ayutthaya Old Capital with 4 Famous Temple Private Tour: $149
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya 3 Historic Attractions Private Day Tour: $121
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya Night Tour (Join Tour): $68
- Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $60
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Maritime Museum Entrance$0.73
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.85
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.42
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.70
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Low Cost Kite$0.73
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.70
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.42
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka Upside Down House Admission Tickets: $4.55
- Upside Down House Gallery Melaka Admission Ticket: $7.08
- A'Famosa Safari and Water Park in Melaka Ticket (Only Malaysian): $15
- Malacca Illusion 3D Art Museum Admission Tickets: $19
- Malaysian: A'Famosa Malacca Entry Ticket: $20
- Luxury Full Day Tour to Saqqara,Giza Pyramids and sphinx, Memphis: $21
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- *13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAyutthaya $20Melaka $8.41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Melaka, we can see that Ayutthaya is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Melaka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Melaka 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya than you might in Melaka.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Melaka?
Melaka has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya and Melaka, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.