Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Mandalay?
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 Mandalay or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Melaka, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mandalay or Melaka?
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
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 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Melaka $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $34. 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 Mandalay and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Melaka $9.83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Melaka $20
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay 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: Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Melaka $2.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $180
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $180
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.91
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Bus Ride$0.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- °Sit Back & Relax - Malacca to KLIA Airport MPV Transfer: $206
- °Sit Back & Relax - Malacca to Kuala Lumpur MPV Transfer: $206
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $281
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Desaru Transfer [Van]: $88
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $80
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $118
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $212
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer: $218
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $73
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $169
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City: $232
- Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Mandalay 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 dayMandalay $10Melaka $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $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)$7.37
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.19
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.47
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.23
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.86
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: $75
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandalay -Melaka $4.17
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $110
- Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $95
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing: $75
- Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour from Mandalay: $194
- Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $130
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura: $61
- Full day Adventure Trip to Amarapura, Sagaing & Ava: $89
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $88
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$0.74
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.91
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.46
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.72
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Low Cost Kite$0.74
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.83
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.46
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $5.01
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.15
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $17
- 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: $75
- Private Half-Day Melaka Walking Tour: $81
- *13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $84
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Melaka $8.52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Melaka, we can see that Melaka is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Melaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melaka than you might in Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandalay Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Melaka?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay 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.