A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guilin vs. Melbourne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guilin 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 Guilin and Melbourne can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Guilin or Melbourne?

Guilin

Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Guilin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $69, 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 Guilin and Melbourne in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guilin $35
    Melbourne $125
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guilin $70
    Melbourne $250
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Melbourne

Looking for a hotel in Guilin 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.

Hotels in Guilin


Hotels in Melbourne


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guilin $5.92
    Melbourne $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin

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


  • Taxi
    $2.84

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:

  • [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
  • Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
  • Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
  • Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
  • Private Transfer: Guilin Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $115
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $391
  • Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Longji terraces: $168
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $197
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhangjiajie: $391
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Hongjiang: $267

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 Guilin or Melbourne?

Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Guilin 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
    Guilin $23
    Melbourne $32
Typical Food Prices in Guilin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:


  • Fresh Coconut Drink
    $1.42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.

  • Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
  • Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286

Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    $2.74
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guilin $28
    Melbourne $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin

Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entrance to the Caves
    $17

Tours and Activities in Guilin

Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
  • Full-Day Guilin Li-River Cruise with 4 star boat and Reed Flute Cave Tour: $262
  • Full-Day Yangshuo Sunrise and Li-River cruise with the 4 Star Boat Private Tour: $272
  • 1 Day Guilin to Yangshuo with top scenery & culture private tour : $120
  • 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $219
  • 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $169
  • 1 day Li River cruise & Yangshuo countryside private day tour : $120
  • 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $70
  • 1-DAy Private Guilin -Li River Cruise-Yangshuo Highlights tour: $70
  • 1-Day Guilin Tour to Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, Bamboo Boat and Night Show: $89
  • 1-Day Guilin Xing'an Ling Canal Private Tour: $183
  • 1-Day Longji Terrace Fields-Dazhai village Tour with the English Speaking Driver: $79

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guilin $5.88
    Melbourne $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:


  • 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 Guilin and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guilin 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 Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Guilin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guilin or Melbourne?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Guilin 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 Guilin 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 Guilin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Guilin or Melbourne in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Guilin 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, Guilin is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guilin in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.

Guilin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guilin usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Guilin 30°C (86°F) 
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Guilin or Melbourne in the Autumn?

Both Melbourne and Guilin 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, Guilin is generally a little warmer than Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 23°C (73°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

In October, Guilin usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Guilin 23°C (73°F) 
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F)

Should I visit Guilin or Melbourne in the Winter?

Both Melbourne and Guilin during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Guilin is around the same temperature as Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.

Guilin usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Guilin 10°C (49°F) 
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Guilin or Melbourne in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Melbourne. Also, many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Guilin is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guilin in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.

Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Guilin usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Guilin 20°C (68°F) 
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Melbourne and Guilin

Guilin Melbourne
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Mar 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in) 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in) 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in) 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Nov 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)