Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Dar es Salaam?
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 Dar es Salaam or Melbourne?
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 Dar es Salaam and Melbourne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dar es Salaam or Melbourne?
Dar es Salaam
Having grown from a fishing village, Dar es Salaam is now a major city and commercial port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast. While it is mainly used as a stopping point on the way to Zanzibar, it has a few unique treasures of its own such as the Kariakoo Market, National Museum, and the open-air Village Museum.
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 Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Safaris in Tanzania, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Dar es Salaam Prices
Tanzania PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDar es Salaam $463Melbourne $208
The average daily cost (per person) in Dar es Salaam is $463, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $208. 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 Dar es Salaam and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDar es Salaam $424Melbourne $127
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDar es Salaam $848Melbourne $254
Compare Hotels in Dar es Salaam and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Dar es Salaam 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: Dar es Salaam Hotel Prices and Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dar es Salaam $13Melbourne $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dar es Salaam
Also for Dar es Salaam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zanzibar Airport Shared Taxi Transfer to Any Hotel: $35
- Transfer/Airport pick up and drop off: $192
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with two way transfers: $250
- Private Transfer from Dar El Salaam to Julius Nyerere Airport (DAR): $50
- Private Airport Transfers in Dar: $60
- Ferry Tickets to Zanzibar with Transfers.: $120
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfer: $118
- Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $59
- Dar es Salaam Airport Transfers Comfortable Ride to Your Hotel: $60
- Dar Es Salaam Transfer from Airport Hotel Ferry or Train: $55
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$2.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $212
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $189
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $177
- Airport Private Van Transfer to City: $172
- Arrival Transfer from Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Van: $170
- Airport Transfers: $151
- Melbourne Airport to City Transfer by Luxury Car: $138
- Airport Transfers & Day Tours in a Chauffeur-Driven Luxury Van: $134
- Airport to City Private Transfers: $134
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Melbourne Airport Private Transfer to City by premium vehicle: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Dar es Salaam or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Dar es Salaam 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 dayDar es Salaam $31Melbourne $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dar es Salaam
For Dar es Salaam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dar es Salaam Old Town Walking and Food Tour With Transfers: $70
- Market Tour & Cooking Class in Morogoro including Hotel Transfers: $98
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.79
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Pizza$4.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- BACCHUS MARSH: Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $57
- Progressive Day/Night Food Tour - Chinatown & Laneways: $70
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $86
- Street Food Tour in Melbourne's Inner North: $88
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Pizza Making Party: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dar es Salaam -Melbourne $29
Tours and Activities in Dar es Salaam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dar es Salaam.
- 2 Days 1 Night Bagamoyo Historical Tour: $300
- Bagamoyo Full-Day Tour: Historic Slave Market & Kaole Ruins: $280
- Bagamoyo Historical Tour - Everyday: $199
- Bagamoyo Tour: $120
- Dar Es Salaam City Tour (Full Day With Private Guide And Car): $250
- Dar Es Salaam Local Markets and Village-National Museum Day tour: $150
- Dar es Salaam Architectural Guided Walking Tour and History: $22
- Dar es Salaam City Tour & 360 Degree Revolving Dining Experience: $99
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Everyday: $97
- Dar es Salaam City Tour - Visit all attractive places: $130
- Dar es Salaam City Tour: Experience & Insights Tanzanian culture: $40
- Dar es Salaam City Walking tour - Explore the Life of the Local People!: $100
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $155
- 1.5Hr Yarra River Crown Flames and City Lights Cruise: $317
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $843
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $71
- 3 Day Combo: Great Ocean Road, Penguin Parade and FREE City Tour: $236
- 4D3N Best Bits Victoria Sightseeing Tour: $992
- 5 Days 4 Nights: Melbourne Package tour: $1,323
- ArtVo Immersive Gallery Experience: $21
- Australian Designer Walking Tour in Melbourne CBD: $106
- Awesome Motorcycle Sidecar Sightseeing Melbourne: $127
- Badass Women of Women’s History Walking Tour: $46
- Best Tour of Walk and Drive Tour with Beach Boxes: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDar es Salaam $7.49Melbourne $18
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$5.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $21
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $25
- Tuesday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $25
- Saturday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $25
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Guide: $25
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $28
- Rock'n'roll venues pub crawl including 2 free drinks and history: $57
- Relaxed Half Day Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Melbourne: $84
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dar es Salaam and Melbourne, we can see that Dar es Salaam is more expensive. And not only is Melbourne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dar es Salaam is in Africa 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 Melbourne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Melbourne 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 Dar es Salaam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dar es Salaam than you might in Melbourne.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dar es Salaam Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dar es Salaam or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Dar es Salaam. When comparing the sizes of Dar es Salaam 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.
When is the best time to visit Dar es Salaam or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dar es Salaam experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dar es Salaam and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dar es Salaam year-round. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Dar es Salaam is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dar es Salaam in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In Dar es Salaam, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dar es Salaam usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during summer. Dar es Salaam gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Dar es Salaam usually receives less rain than Melbournein January. Dar es Salaam gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryDar es Salaam 25°C (77°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Dar es Salaam as well as Melbourne. Dar es Salaam attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In October, Dar es Salaam is generally much warmer than Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Dar es Salaam average around 25°C (78°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dar es Salaam this time of the year. In the autumn, Dar es Salaam often gets more sunshine than Melbournein April. Dar es Salaam gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun.
Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in October than Melbournein April. Dar es Salaam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilDar es Salaam 25°C (78°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne and Dar es Salaam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dar es Salaam throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Dar es Salaam averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during winter. Dar es Salaam gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Dar es Salaam usually receives more rain than Melbournein July. Dar es Salaam gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyDar es Salaam 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Dar es Salaam or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne and Dar es Salaam during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dar es Salaam because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Dar es Salaam is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dar es Salaam in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Dar es Salaam often gets less sunshine than Melbournein October. Dar es Salaam gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam usually gets more rain in April than Melbournein October. Dar es Salaam gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberDar es Salaam 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Dar es Salaam
| Dar es Salaam | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
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.