A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lipe vs. Melbourne for Beaches, Couples, Food, and Families

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

Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is a local, tranquil, and idyllic island. Koh Lipe is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Koh Lipe travel costs.

Melbourne

Melbourne is a cultural, progressive, and livable city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Melbourne travel costs.

Koh Lipe and Melbourne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Melbourne. Although Koh Lipe and Melbourne are popular destinations, Melbourne has more sights and attractions for tourists. Melbourne is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Koh Lipe attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Melbourne is more touristy than Koh Lipe and is popular for its art and cultural scene, its sports history, and its friendly and welcoming population. It is also well known for the Royal Botanic Gardens. Koh Lipe is famous for its world class scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as its small and local atmosphere.

How is Koh Lipe different from Melbourne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Melbourne and Koh Lipe. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

Melbourne is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

Many visitors head to Melbourne specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many of the city's sights center around the art and cultural scene. There's the the National Gallery of Victoria and the Performing Arts Centre Melbourne. There's also Federation Square. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the National Sports Museum and for great views, check out Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Koh Lipe. The island is small and all about beaches and the undersea world, so you won't find any temples or museums here.

Is the Food Better in Koh Lipe or Melbourne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Melbourne is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Koh Lipe is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Melbourne makes for a great culinary experience. There's an eclectic mix of international restaurants that offer everything from Szechuan dishes to Spanish tapas. You'll find bistros and bars that have a fun and relaxed vibe and locals and tourists alike enjoy dining out.

Koh Lipe has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's enough of a restaurant selection that you'll find good local food and freshly caught seafood. The options change frequently as the tourist crowds have varied dramatically over the years, making it difficult for businesses to stay open.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Nightlife?

Melbourne is a great destination for nightlife. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

The people in Melbourne know how to have a good time. There are bars and clubs that have a laid back and relaxed atmosphere as well as more party focused nightclubs that stay open late into the night. Whether you're interested in dancing and listening to live music, or chatting with friends at a local brewery, there really is something for everyone.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Koh Lipe This is a small island that attracts tourists who want nature, beauty, and a serene and tranquil environment. You won't find much of a nightlife scene here.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Resorts?

Koh Lipe is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Melbourne is not a resort destination.

Koh Lipe is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a number of locally owned hotels on the island. Many have snorkeling gear for rent.

Melbourne is not a resort destination.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Lipe is very popular for its diving and snorkeling. However, Melbourne is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The clear water and abundant marine life make Koh Lipe a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. Although it is no longer the undiscovered island paradise that it once was, the snorkeling and diving on Koh Lipe remains some of the best in the country.

Melbourne is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Beaches?

Koh Lipe is very popular for the beach. Also, Melbourne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Koh Lipe. Despite the island's small size, the beaches are truly spectacular. They have white sand and the undersea world is just steps away, so don't forget your mask and snorkel.

Melbourne is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are laid back beaches near town that attract locals and tourists alike. You can enjoy coastal trails and great natural beauty. St Kilda Beach and Elwood Beach are among the most popular beaches near the city. Brighton Beach is known for its colorful bathing boxes and Williamstown Beach is very family-friendly.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Hiking?

Koh Lipe is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Melbourne is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Koh Lipe. The island of Koh Lipe doesn't have any hiking, but nearby Adang Island has some impressive hikes that offer views and small waterfalls. You can take a longtail boat for just a short ride to the nearby island.

Melbourne is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

Melbourne is a great destination for shopping. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for its shopping opportunities.

Melbourne is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has tons of retail options that range from trendy fashion boutiques to outdoor markets. There are local venders that highlight the city's art and cultural scene, but there are also suburban malls with all of the major brands.

If you're looking to go shopping, Koh Lipe has some nice offerings. The Walking Street is the main street through the island. Its where you'll find the island's shops and restaurants. Most are closed during the morning hours, but people begin to gather in the afternoon.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne More Beautiful?

Koh Lipe is very popular for its scenery and beauty. However, Melbourne is not a destination known for its beauty.

Koh Lipe is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Many visitors consider this to be one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. It still holds on to that undiscovered quality and the nearby national park offers excellent nature to explore.

Melbourne is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Koh Lipe or Melbourne.

Koh Lipe is a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a perfect island to explore with kids. There are beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, and plenty of opportunities to check out wildlife. Your kids will also enjoy seeing the Sea la vie fire show.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Melbourne is very family-friendly. The city has kids museums like the Museum of Play and Art or the Polly Woodside Tall Ship and Museum. There's also the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and the Scienceworks Museums. If you like quirky, check out the ArtVo 3D Immersive Art Gallery. There's also Legoland, which has a lot for younger children.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Couples?

Koh Lipe is very popular for its romantic activities. Also, Melbourne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Koh Lipe makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its stunning beaches and beautiful nature, this is a great couple's destination. The island has wonderful snorkeling and white sandy beaches that are perfect for exploring with a loved one.

Melbourne is a good island for couples to visit. It's a very livable city with romantic viewpoints like SkyHigh Mount Dandenong. There are also nice gardens to explore such as the Carlton Gardens and the Rippon Lea House and Gardens. Or you could go for a ride on the Melbourne Star or dine at one of the many great restaurants.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Lipe and Melbourne are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Koh Lipe is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The island has become more popular than it was in years past, but it still offers a tranquil setting for those who are a bit jaded by the backpacker scene in Thailand.

It's common for backpackers to visit Melbourne. Many backpackers breeze through the city, but there is a great music and art scene as well as a number of good restaurants. You'll also find a couple of good hostels in town.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Students?

Melbourne is a must-visit destination for students. However, Koh Lipe is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Melbourne. Many students think this is among the best student cities in Australia. There's a great creative culture with a good music and art scene. The population is diverse and the restaurants a great.

Koh Lipe is not popular with students.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Melbourne is a great destination for its public transit. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Melbourne can move around easily with public transportation. The public transit system is among the best in Australia. There are public buses, trains, and trams (also called trolleys or streetcars).

Public transit is mostly limited in Koh Lipe. There are longtail boats, motorbike taxis, and golf cart taxis that you can hire.

Is Koh Lipe or Melbourne a more walkable city?

Koh Lipe and Melbourne both are great when exploring on foot.

Koh Lipe is very walkable. It's an easy island to explore on foot and you can walk from one end of the island to the other in about half an hour.

Melbourne is a very walkable island. The city center is very walkable with a compact and grid-like layout.

For even more information, also check out Is Koh Lipe Worth Visiting? and Is Melbourne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Melbourne or Koh Lipe?

How long in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

In either Koh Lipe or Melbourne, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Koh Lipe than Melbourne because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Koh Lipe, and 2-5 days is enough time in Melbourne.

Families should spend more time in Koh Lipe than Melbourne. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Koh Lipe, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Koh Lipe than Melbourne. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Koh Lipe that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Melbourne than Koh Lipe if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Melbourne.

One day in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the island of Koh Lipe. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Melbourne is a big city with plenty to do. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and food around the local destination of Koh Lipe. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Melbourne is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Melbourne, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the idyllic island of Koh Lipe. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this island makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer.

Melbourne is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Melbourne, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

Koh Lipe is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Koh Lipe, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Melbourne is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lipe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe.

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Melbourne?

Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lipe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Melbourne in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Melbourne. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Koh Lipe is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Lipe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.

Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Melbourne in the Autumn?

Both Melbourne and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.

In October, Koh Lipe is generally much warmer than Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Melbourne in the Winter?

Both Melbourne and Koh Lipe during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Koh Lipe is much warmer than Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.

Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Melbourne in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Lipe in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.

Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.

Typical Weather for Melbourne and Koh Lipe