Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Koh Lanta?
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 Koh Lanta or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Melaka can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Koh Lanta or Melaka?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Koh Lanta Prices
Thailand PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lanta $63Melaka $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $63, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $35. 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 Koh Lanta and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lanta $28Melaka $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lanta $56Melaka $20
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta 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.
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: Koh Lanta Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lanta $6.37Melaka $2.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $125
- Koh Lanta Private Transfers to or from Krabi Airport (KBV): $91
- ATV Jungle Ride on Ko Lanta Noi with Hotel Transfers: $48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$5.04
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Bus Ride$0.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- °Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Van Transfer: $63
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $282
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $186
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $213
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Taman Negara Transfer [Car]: $240
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $171
- Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Koh Lanta 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 dayKoh Lanta $21Melaka $21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.91
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Casual Lunch$8.29
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Casual Dinner$14
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $49
- Thai Cooking and Market Tour in Koh Lanta: $51
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $60
- Thai Cooking in a Teak House on Koh Lanta: $61
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.56
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.27
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.51
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.26
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$8.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $76
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lanta $34Melaka $4.27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$21
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$11
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $31
- Full Day Sea Cave and Mangrove Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $58
- Full Day Snorkeling Tour to Koh Rok and Koh Haa from Koh Lanta: $56
- Half Day Mangrove and Lanta Old Town Tour: $31
- Half-Day Thung Yee Peng Mangrove Kayaking Adventure: $31
- Koh Lanta Mangrove and Monkey Point Longtail Boat Tour: $24
- 4 Islands Tour by Speedboat with Snorkeling: $49
- Koh Rok and Koh Haa Snorkeling Tour with Beachside Lunch: $55
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $36
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat: $51
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $30
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Maritime Museum Entrance$0.76
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$5.04
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.52
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.76
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Low Cost Kite$0.76
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Malacca Duck Tour$10
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.52
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $5.05
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.19
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $18
- From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $76
- Private Half-Day Melaka Walking Tour: $82
- *13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $84
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lanta $4.27Melaka $8.74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Melaka, we can see that Koh Lanta is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Koh Lanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Melaka?
Melaka has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta 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.
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.