Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Kiev?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kiev 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 Kiev and Melbourne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kiev or Melbourne?
Kiev
Kiev is the capital city and also the largest city in the Ukraine, with a population of almost 3 million in the metropolitan area. It is situated on the Dnieper River in the north central part of the country and is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, dating back to the fifth century. The people in Kiev are quite friendly and welcoming, and are happy to have you in their city. It can, however, be difficult to communicate and get around if you don't speak at least a little Russian. It is doable with a little sign language and the help of a guide book with translations though.
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 Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKiev $26Melbourne $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Kiev is $26, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $179. 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 Kiev and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKiev $17Melbourne $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKiev $34Melbourne $240
Compare Hotels in Kiev and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Kiev 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.Kiev $1.03Melbourne $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kiev
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kiev:
- VIP Airport Transfer Service in Kiev: $43
- Strategic Missile Forces Base: Round-Trip Transfer from Kyiv& Museum Guided Tour: $146
- Private transfer: Boryspil International Airport to Kyiv: $48
- Private Transfer: From Kyiv city to Kyiv Boryspil International Airport : $37
- Private Transfer from Zhulyany (Kyiv International Airport) to Kyiv: $42
- Private Transfer Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to Zhytomyr.: $173
- Private Departure Transfer To Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $24
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to Chernihiv city: $147
- Private Arrival Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $24
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer from Kyiv Boryspil Airport: $30
- Luxury Departure Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $80
- Kiev Departure Private Transfers from Kiev City to Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV: $61
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$2.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport: Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $16
- Melbourne Airport: One-Way Transfer to Melbourne: $30
- GoBlu-EV: 100% Electric Cabs for Airport & City Transfer in MEL: $33
- Private Transfer from Melbourne Cruise Port to Melbourne hotels: $38
- Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $53
- Melbourne Airport Luxury Car Transfer: $74
- From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne: $79
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80
- Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Melbourne Airport Private Transfer: $86
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $87
- Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $87
- Mt Buller 1 Day Snow Tour (Direct Transfer To Mt Buller Village From Melbourne): $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Kiev or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Kiev 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 dayKiev $7.25Melbourne $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kiev
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kiev.
- "Kiev Private Food Tour" - Taste the best Ukraine has to offer: $53
- Kyiv Restaurant Food Tour: Ukrainian Cuisine Tasting: $113
- Private Gastro/Food Tour In Kyiv : $144
- Cooking master class: $226
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.64
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Pizza$4.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $87
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $120
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $124
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $132
- Great Ocean Road Sunset Tour with Dinner and Wildlife Park: $144
- Phillip Island Penguins, Wine Tasting and Dinner from Melbourne: $147
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kiev $2.04Melbourne $28
Tours and Activities in Kiev
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kiev are as follows:
- "Kiev Private Nightlife Tour" - Visit Secret Bars & Party with Locals: $53
- 1- or 3-Hour Private Kyiv Guided Bike Tour: $56
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour to Kiev Pechersk Lavra : $39
- 2-Day Small-Group Tour to Lviv from Kiev by Intercity Train: $225
- 2-days Group Tour To The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: $279
- 3-Hour Kiev Private Gastro Tour: $88
- 3-Hour Kiev Street Art Private Tour: $53
- Adventure City Center Tour : $120
- Bohemian Podil Tour: $120
- Chernobyl Exclusion Zone 1-day tour: $98
- Chernobyl Tour with Gift : $107
- Discover Kyiv: The Most Complete 6 Hours Private Sightseeing Tour by car: $162
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Melbourne:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- MoPA Children's Museum Admission Ticket: $9.25
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.91
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Explore Melbourne's Pulse: A CBD In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKiev $6.40Melbourne $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Kiev
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kiev:
- Kiev Pub Crawling | Private Beer Tasting Tour: $77
- Speakeasy Bar Crawl: $135
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$5.12
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: $17
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $87
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $104
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $117
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $129
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $140
- Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $181
- Champion Racehorse Tour with Beer and Wine Tasting: $194
- Pour Decisions | Wine Tour in Yarra Valley (Private Tour): $260
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kiev and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Kiev much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kiev is in Europe 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 Kiev would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiev 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 Kiev.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kiev Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kiev or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 48% larger than the population of Kiev. When comparing the sizes of Kiev 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 Kiev 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 Kiev has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Kiev or Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne and Kiev during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Kiev is generally around the same temperature as Melbournein January. Daily temperatures in Kiev average around 21°C (70°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
Kiev usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Kiev gets 88 mm (3.5 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 JanuaryKiev 21°C (70°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Kiev or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kiev and Melbourne. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
Kiev is much colder than Melbourne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kiev averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in April.
In October, Kiev usually receives less rain than Melbournein April. Kiev gets 35 mm (1.4 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 AprilKiev 10°C (49°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Kiev or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kiev as well as Melbourne. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Kiev in the winter. In the winter, Kiev is much colder than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kiev in January average around -4°C (24°F), and Melbourne averages at about 9°C (49°F)in July.
Kiev usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Kiev gets 47 mm (1.9 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 JulyKiev -4°C (24°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Kiev or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne and Kiev are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Kiev is generally cooler than Melbournein October. Daily temperatures in Kiev average around 10°C (51°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In April, Kiev usually receives less rain than Melbournein October. Kiev gets 49 mm (1.9 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 OctoberKiev 10°C (51°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Kiev
| Kiev | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (24°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | -3°C (27°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 2°C (36°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (51°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 3°C (38°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (30°F) | 52 mm (2 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.