A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Melaka for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Melaka?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat 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: Eilat or Melaka?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Eilat?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $204, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $34. 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 Eilat and Melaka in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $115
    Melaka $9.79
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $230
    Melaka $20
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Melaka

Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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.

Hotels in Eilat


Hotels in Melaka


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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $16
    Melaka $2.15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $4.59

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:


  • Taxi
    $4.90
  • Bus Ride
    $0.37

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 Kuala Lumpur Hotels: $63
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $241
  • Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $170
  • Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Taman Negara Transfer [Car]: $241
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer: $220
  • °Sit Back & Relax - Malacca to KLIA Airport Transfer: $138
  • °Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Van Transfer: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Melaka?

Prices for flights to both Melaka and Eilat 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
    Eilat $75
    Melaka $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eilat

For Eilat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The Feast at the Camel Ranch in Eilat with Dinner Alcohol Event: $95

Typical Food Prices in Melaka

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:


  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $7.34
  • Dinner at the Market (for Two)
    $3.18
  • Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)
    $1.47
  • Taiwanese Noodle Soup
    $1.22
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $7.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka

For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $50
  • Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
  • Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
  • Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $20
    Melaka $4.15

Tours and Activities in Eilat

For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $22
  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $75
  • Morning jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $75
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
  • Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide: $220
  • Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $98
  • Summer night jeep tour in Eilat mountains: $75
  • Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $98

Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka

For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Maritime Museum Entrance
    $0.73
  • Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
    $4.90
  • Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
    $11
  • Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
    $2.45
  • Melaka Zoo Entrance
    $1.71
  • Low Cost Kite
    $0.73
  • Malacca Duck Tour
    $9.79
  • Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)
    $2.45

Tours and Activities in Melaka

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.

  • *13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $84
  • *13 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Full Day & Night Car Tour w' Tour Guide: $260
  • Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $13
  • From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
  • Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
  • Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
  • Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
  • Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $328
  • Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch: $182
  • Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
  • Malacca To Kuala Lumpur En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
  • Malaysia Melaka - Breakout Escape Game E-Ticket: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $33
    Melaka $8.49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Melaka, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Melaka is in Asia, 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 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Eilat or Melaka?

Melaka has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.