Should you visit Chengdu or Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chengdu and Melbourne. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Chengdu or Melbourne?
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia.
Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $52, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $185. 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 Chengdu and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu or Melbourne? 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:
Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
-
[Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! :
$22
-
Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City:
$113
-
Private Transfer to Leshan Giant Buddha:
$138
-
Private Transfer from Chengdu to TFU or CTU Airport:
$171
-
Private Transfer from Chengdu to Sanxingdui Museum:
$143
-
Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport:
$52
-
Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport:
$52
-
Private Transfer from Chengdu Downtown to Airport:
$140
-
Private Round-Trip Transfer:Chengdu Shuangliu Airport or Chengdu :
$67
-
Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu :
$28
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU):
$23
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU):
$34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
-
Airport Bus
$11
-
Tram Ride
$2.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfers - Chauffeur Car & Limo Services of Melbourne:
$97
-
Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers:
$184
-
Chauffeur Services with Baby Seat - Luxury Airport Transfer :
$153
-
Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van:
$167
-
From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne:
$40
-
From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers:
$986
-
GoBlu-EV: 100% Electric Cabs for Airport & City Transfer in MEL:
$35
-
Luxury Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD :
$89
-
Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne hotels - Arrival Private Transfer:
$61
-
Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne:
$327
-
Melbourne Airport Luxury Car Transfer:
$77
-
Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Sedan Car:
$118
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Chengdu 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Chengdu $22
Melbourne $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
-
Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show And Hotpot Dinner Evening Tour:
$40
-
Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals :
$55
-
Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour :
$61
-
Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats:
$69
-
Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit:
$69
-
Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking:
$72
-
Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes):
$75
-
Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with Local Market Visit:
$75
-
Chengdu Evening Food Tour:
$76
-
Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda:
$79
-
Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit:
$80
-
Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu:
$80
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Multicultural Food Tour in Melbourne Markets:
$53
-
Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour:
$54
-
Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour:
$55
-
Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour:
$56
-
Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner:
$82
-
Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour:
$89
-
Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink:
$101
-
Secret Food Tour:
$114
-
Chinese Cooking Class Master:
$125
-
Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass:
$134
-
Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise:
$136
-
Thai Cooking Class:
$137
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Chengdu Leshan Buddha and Drop off off Railway Station Day Tour:
$226
-
Chengdu Private Day Tour to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Old Town:
$248
-
Chinese Traditional Massage Experience In Chengdu:
$90
-
Private Chengdu Panda Base and Sichuan Cuisine Museum Day Tour:
$120
-
Private Chengdu day Tour of panda base with Leshan giant Buddha:
$298
-
Private Full Day Chengdu Panda Base and Jinsha Site Museum Tour:
$136
-
Private Leshan Buddha Day Tour with Local Market visiting:
$160
-
1 Day Wolong Panda Nature Reserve Tour:
$218
-
1 day Chengdu City Highlights Mini Group tour:
$102
-
1-Day Chengdu Ancient History and Culture City Tour:
$179
-
1-Day Chengdu Cultural Discovery:Jinsha,Shu Brocade Museum & Dufu Cottage Tour :
$189
-
1-Day Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour With the Lunch and Boat tour:
$242
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour:
$3.37
-
Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour:
$6.00
-
Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour:
$6.00
-
Marvellous A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$8.99
-
Scienceworks Entry Ticket:
$10
-
Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour:
$10
-
Immigration Museum Entry Ticket:
$10
-
Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket:
$10
-
Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour:
$11
-
Melbourne Sports Walking Tour:
$13
-
Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Self-Guided Street Art Tour in Melbourne with Fun Cryptic Clues:
$17
Alcohol
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Melbourne Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry:
$20
-
Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour:
$27
-
Distillery Tour & Tasting:
$41
-
Yarra Valley Food and Wine Tour with Lunch:
$56
-
Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Gin and Cider:
$83
-
Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne:
$108
-
Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour from Melbourne:
$111
-
Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne :
$146
-
Mornington Peninsula Winery Tour Including Wine Tastings and 2-Course Lunch:
$166
-
Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake :
$181
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chengdu is in Asia and Melbourne is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne than you might in Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chengdu Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Melbourne?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Melbourne. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu and Melbourne, 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.
Related Articles for Chengdu
Related Articles for Melbourne