Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou and Melbourne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Melbourne?
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $91Melbourne $185
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $91, 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 Guangzhou and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $59Melbourne $125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $118Melbourne $250
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou 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.Guangzhou $14Melbourne $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- [Airport transfer] Guangzhou Airport - Guangzhou city transfer service with a good reputation! <Private charter: $27
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport : $108
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou APT-HTL (CAN): $62
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $37
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou hotel: $33
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Nan Railway Station: $38
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to City Center : $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport : $53
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $69
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou City Center to South Railway Station: $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $45
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$2.60
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: $95
- 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 Guangzhou or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Guangzhou 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 dayGuangzhou $20Melbourne $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Guangzhou Night View Cruise Tour with Dinner: $90
- Private Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Cruise: $111
- Private Guangzhou Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Night Cruise: $112
- World 8th Tallest Building (one of Best View point & dinner): $120
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $150
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Yumcha and Local Food Market Explore: $153
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.74
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Pizza$4.79
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $18Melbourne $29
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Tour From Kaiping Garden, Watchtowers, and Chikan Old Town: $274
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $200
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $153
- 4-Hour Chinese Tea Culture Tea Ceremony Tea Market Private Tour: $153
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou: $91
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- 7-Hour Customised Private Guangzhou Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $153
- 7-Hour Private Day Tour to Sunac Land Amusement Park in Guangzhou: $187
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 (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.97
- Melbourne City Centre 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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $15Melbourne $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$5.31
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 Guangzhou and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 18% larger than the population of Guangzhou. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou or Melbourne?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Melbourne is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Guangzhou has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Guangzhou or Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Guangzhou as well as Melbourne. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Guangzhou is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guangzhou in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Guangzhou this time of the year. In the summer, Guangzhou often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Guangzhou gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guangzhou usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Guangzhou gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryGuangzhou 29°C (84°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Melbourne in the Autumn?
Both Melbourne and Guangzhou are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In October, Guangzhou is generally much warmer than Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Guangzhou average around 25°C (76°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Guangzhou usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during autumn. Guangzhou gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Guangzhou gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilGuangzhou 25°C (76°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne and Guangzhou during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Guangzhou is much warmer than Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Guangzhou averages around 14°C (58°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.
In the winter, Guangzhou often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Melbournein July. Guangzhou gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Melbournein July. Guangzhou gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyGuangzhou 14°C (58°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Guangzhou or Melbourne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Guangzhou and Melbourne. Also, many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Guangzhou is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guangzhou in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. Guangzhou usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Guangzhou gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
Guangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Guangzhou usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Guangzhou gets 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberGuangzhou 22°C (72°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Guangzhou
| Guangzhou | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 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.