Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bali or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Melaka can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bali or Melaka?
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
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 Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Bali Prices
Indonesia PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBali $79Melaka $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $79, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $35. 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 Bali and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBali $37Melaka $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBali $74Melaka $20
Compare Hotels in Bali and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Bali 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: Bali Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bali $8.07Melaka $2.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
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Motorbike Rental$2.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
- Luxury Bali Private Airport Transfer Alphard: $113
- West Beach Nusa Penida Tour with Speedboat Transfer from Sanur: $99
- Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Bali Jet Ski, Parasailing, Banana, and Donut Boat with Transfer: $74
- Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
- Bali Parasailing Adventure, Sea Walker, Donut Boat with Transfer: $68
- Bali Sea Walker, Parasailing Adventure, Donut Boat with Transfer: $67
- Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $66
- Bali Spa Treatment with Airport Transfers (Departure): $64
- Bali Ultimate Watersport Package and Optional Transfers: $64
- Traditional Balinese Massage with Hotel Transfer: $50
- Ubud Highlight Private Tour with Transfer: $48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$5.04
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Bus Ride$0.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $75
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Van]: $76
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $80
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city: $117
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $172
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $186
- Sit Back & Relax - Malacca to Kuala Lumpur MPV Transfer: $191
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $235
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Ipoh Transfer [Car]: $239
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Bali 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 dayBali $32Melaka $21
Typical Food Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
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Coffee$1.11
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Lunch for Two$12
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Bali Cafe for Two$24
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Lunch for Two$7.21
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Lunch for 2$7.99
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Dinner for 2$8.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
- Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset: $30
- Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
- Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran beach: $38
- Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $41
- Nusa Dua Cooking Class With Spice Herb Garden Visit-Free Pick Up: $42
- Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $55
- Kekeb Cooking Class at Nusa Dua: $55
- Uluwatu Temple Sunset Tour & Dinner at Jimbaran Bay: $63
- Bali Famous Beach, Kecak Dance, Uluwatu Temple, Sunset, Dinner: $65
- Bali Street Food Tour: $65
- Ubud Slow Afternoon with Balinese Cooking Class: $69
- Jimbaran Beach Sunset Candlelight Dinner with Indian Set Menu: $75
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)$7.56
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.27
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.51
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.26
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$8.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $76
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bali $9.68Melaka $4.27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two$48
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Snorkelling Trip$11
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Cooking School$25
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
- 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
- 5 Hours Bali Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Tour Including Tanjung Jepun: $59
- ATV Ride Adventure in Bali: $31
- Adventure Rafting Journey With Us! And Ubud Tours: $123
- All Inclusive Tour to Tanah Lot Temple and Monkey Forest: $56
- All-Inclusive: Besakih Temple & Ancient Village Experience: $78
- Amazing Day Tour: Highlights of Ubud Village Hidden Waterfall: $29
- Amazing Private Tour: Tukad Cepung Waterfall + 5 tourist objects: $63
- Amazing Private Tours: Dolphins Lovina and Gitgit Waterfall include Lunch: $85
- BALI INSTAGRAM TOUR: The Most Scenic Spots: $75
- Bali ATV (Quad Bike)+Rafting with lunch+Coffee Plantation tour: $38
- Bali ATV Quad Bike Adventure and Snorkeling Tour: $99
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$0.76
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$5.04
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.52
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.76
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Low Cost Kite$0.76
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Malacca Duck Tour$10
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.52
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $5.09
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.17
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $18
- From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
- Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBali $2.86Melaka $8.74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Melaka, we can see that Bali 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 Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali 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 Bali Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bali or Melaka?
Bali has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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.