Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Chongqing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chongqing 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 Chongqing 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: Chongqing or Melbourne?
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
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 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChongqing $88Melbourne $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $88, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $182. 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 Chongqing and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChongqing $50Melbourne $122
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChongqing $100Melbourne $244
Compare Hotels in Chongqing and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Chongqing 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chongqing $19Melbourne $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- [Airport Transfer] Chongqing Airport ⇔ Chongqing City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Transfer betwn hotel airport and railway station (Chongqing): $116
- Private Transfer:From Jiangbei Airport to Chongqing downtown: $16
- Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station : $27
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chongqing: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $22
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $40
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Transfer or Tour: $278
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Wulong National Park: $168
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.55
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: $98
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $175
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $187
- Chauffeur Services with Baby Seat - Luxury Airport Transfer : $154
- Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van: $170
- From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne: $40
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $1,001
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne: $333
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $196
- Melbourne Airport To CBD Transfers Sedan (Audi A8, BMW 7 & Mercedes S-Class): $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Chongqing or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Chongqing 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 dayChongqing $25Melbourne $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Chongqing Local Flavors Walking Food Tour: $98
- 4 Hour Walking Historical Local Food Tour: $111
- CHONGQING:Strolling through the city(Include dinner): $127
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
- Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $183
- Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.69
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Pizza$4.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in Melbourne's Inner North: $28
- Multicultural Food Tour in Melbourne Markets: $53
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $55
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $55
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $56
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $83
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $89
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $103
- Secret Food Tour: $116
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $136
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $136
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $138
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chongqing $14Melbourne $28
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Day Tour With the baoding Mountain and Beishan site: $251
- 1 Day Chongqing Megacity Walking Tour: $75
- 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
- 3-Hour Walking Tour of Chongqing Shancheng (Mountain City) Lane: $65
- 4D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang: $638
- 5D4N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Yichang to Chongqing: $638
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $220
- All-in-one Chongqing Night view private tour: $150
- City Night Cruise and Local Snacks Tour: $218
- Chongqing Dazu stone carving day tour: $193
- Chongqing Half day Private Tour With Entire City Night View: $220
- Chongqing Private City Tour Extention: $220
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.04
- Marvellous A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $10
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $10
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $10
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $10
- Melbourne Sports Walking Tour: $13
- Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $15
- Explore Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Self-Guided Street Art Tour in Melbourne with Fun Cryptic Clues: $17
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt - Arts & Culture Adventure: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChongqing $7.05Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.20
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
- Distillery Tour & Tasting: $41
- Yarra Valley Food and Wine Tour with Lunch: $57
- Epic Melbourne Brewery Tour Northside Edition: $76
- 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
- Mornington Peninsula Winery Tour Including Wine Tastings and 2-Course Lunch: $166
- Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $182
- Yarra Valley Full Day Private Wine Tour : $259
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chongqing and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Chongqing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chongqing 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 Chongqing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chongqing 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 Chongqing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chongqing Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chongqing or Melbourne?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Melbourne. When comparing the sizes of Chongqing 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.
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.