Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krabi or Melaka?
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 Krabi and Melaka can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Melaka?
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.
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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $55Melaka $21
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $55, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $21. 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 Krabi and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $36Melaka $8.38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $72Melaka $17
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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: Krabi Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $3.80Melaka $1.84
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.73
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.18
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private 4 Islands Krabi Boat Tour from Ao Nang with Transfer: $171
- Krabi airport to Pakbara pier Private transfer: $166
- From Krabi : One Way Private Transfer Phuket,Khaolak and More: $130
- Private Transfer between Phuket Airport and Krabi Hotels: $130
- Krabi Transfer to Khao Lak : $117
- Krabi airport to donsak pier Private transfer: $116
- From Ao Nang: Similan Islands Boat Trip with Transfer & Food: $101
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KRABI AIRPORT: $97
- Krabi to Khao Lak and Phang Nga Town: Private City Transfers: $97
- Krabi Mangrove Kayak &Elephant Shelter with Private Transfer: $94
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KURABURI: $94
- Krabi airport - Kuantungku pier Private transfer: $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.19
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Bus Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $66
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Seremban city: $38
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $66
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $49
- Melaka Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 1-way Transfer: $50
- Melaka Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
- Malacca to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $45
- Malacca to KUL City Hotel (One Way Transfer): $118
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $13Melaka $10
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.82
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Drinks on the Beach$6.55
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$17
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$30
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Mango Shake$1.36
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Pad Thai$2.73
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Fruit from the Market$1.64
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Pancakes$2.73
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Coffee & Cake$2.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $36
- Snorkeling and Sunset Dinner Trip From Krabi: $37
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner and Snorkeling: $37
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton: $37
- Evening Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $39
- 4 Islands Sunset Longtail Boat Tour with BBQ Dinner: $41
- Seven Islands Snorkel Cruise with Dinner: $41
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour: $41
- Krabi Thai Cooking Class: $42
- Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Premium Service Trip by Speedboat + BBQ Dinner: $42
- Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $44
- Cooking Class at Thai Charm Cooking School with Meal: $45
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)$6.29
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$2.73
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.26
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.05
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$6.71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $10Melaka $3.55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$9.00
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Thai Massages (for Two)$22
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Bikini & Sarong$16
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$12
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$6.82
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$52
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day Guided Tour in Bor Thor Caves and Mangroves : $145
- Phi Phi Islands Tour with Bioluminescent Planktons from krabi: $77
- 2-Hour Clear Kayak Illuminated Night Tour in Krabi: $60
- 4 Island Sunset Snorkeling Cruise + bioluminescent Night Snorkel: $102
- 4 Islands & Sunset Tour by Long Tail Boat with Plankton : $71
- 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $54
- 4 Islands One Day Tour From Krabi: $28
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi with Walk on Tombolo: $28
- 4 Islands Tour Long Tail Boat (UPDATED JULY 2020 for New Normal): $33
- 5 km Rafting, ATV & Zipline Tour From Krabi: $53
- 7km White Water Rafting Adventure Tour From Krabi: $50
- ATV Adventure Krabi: $37
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$0.63
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.19
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$9.43
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.10
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.47
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Low Cost Kite$0.63
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Malacca Duck Tour$8.39
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.10
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- *14 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Van Tour from Melaka w' Tour Guide: $102
- *15 Hrs KL & Genting Highlands Van Tour from Melaka w' Tour Guide: $110
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in Kuala Lumpur from Malacca Port: $295
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca Illusion 3D Art Museum Admission Tickets: $19
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $219
- Malacca Shore Excursion from Cruise Port with Local Guide & Lunch: $222
- Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch: $222
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $4.34Melaka $7.27
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.45
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Railay Pub Crawl: $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Melaka, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi 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 Krabi Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Melaka?
Melaka has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi 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.