Should you visit Melaka or Auckland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Auckland, 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: Melaka or Auckland?
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.
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Melaka?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $35, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $172. 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 Melaka and Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Auckland? 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 and
Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
-
Taxi
$5.04
-
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 Kuantan Transfer [Van]:
$82
-
~Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]:
$288
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city:
$238
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur Hotels:
$65
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city:
$250
-
Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands:
$175
-
Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$52
-
Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer:
$76
-
Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer:
$43
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]:
$119
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Ipoh Transfer [Car]:
$241
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Van]:
$76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
-
Bus from Airport
$9.57
-
Airport Shuttle
$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
From Hobbiton Private Transfers with Group Tour:
$516
-
Premium Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Matamata:
$282
-
Premium Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Waihi Beach:
$270
-
Premium Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Raglan Beach:
$270
-
Premium Transfer From Auckland Airport To Omaha And Snells Beach:
$240
-
Auckland Airport to Whangaparaoa - Gulf Harbour Luxury Transfers:
$228
-
Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore-Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$218
-
Rotorua to Auckland - Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Caves:
$188
-
Transfer Service: Auckland to Rotorua or Rotorua to Auckland:
$180
-
Premium Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Cambridge:
$180
-
Auckland Cruise Wharf & Airport Transfers:
$174
-
Hobbiton / Transfer:
$171
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland and Melaka 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Melaka $21
Auckland $46
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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:
$78
-
Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka:
$95
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner:
$93
-
Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour:
$101
-
Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner:
$102
-
Ponsonby Road Food Tour in Auckland:
$113
-
Auckland Downtown Food Tour with 5 Locals Favorite Dishes:
$129
-
Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner:
$392
-
Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience:
$519
-
From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour:
$550
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Maritime Museum Entrance
$0.76
-
Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
$5.04
-
Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
$11
-
Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
$2.52
-
Melaka Zoo Entrance
$1.76
-
Low Cost Kite
$0.76
-
Malacca Duck Tour
$10
-
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.
-
*13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide:
$85
-
Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre:
$15
-
From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience:
$40
-
Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$48
-
Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$61
-
Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour:
$49
-
Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour:
$49
-
Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive):
$328
-
Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch:
$187
-
Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$61
-
Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket:
$18
-
Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket:
$7.23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
"City of Sails" highlights - private tour with German tour guide:
$220
-
1 Night Auckland - Departure Option with Auckland Sightseeing:
$240
-
2025 Award Winning: Auckland City Highlights Half Day Tour:
$96
-
24 day Greatest Of All Tours Small Group Tour:
$3,447
-
6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland:
$174
-
A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories:
$12
-
AKL: TAUPO - Maori Rock Carving Cruise, Wai O Tapu & Blue Springs:
$288
-
AKL: TAUPO Maori Rock Carvings Cruise, Wai O Tapu & Blue Springs:
$270
-
Half-Day CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR - Mt.Eden, Tamaki Dr:
$86
-
Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland:
$120
-
Amazing Auckland City Half Day Guided Tour:
$108
-
America's Cup Sailing Experience on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour:
$126
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting:
$110
-
Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch:
$120
-
Kumeu Wineries, Muriwai / Hallertau Brewery:
$153
-
Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour:
$159
-
Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue:
$168
-
Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland:
$177
-
Muriwai GANNET Colony & Wine Tasting - Half Day Tour Ex Auckland:
$180
-
From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch:
$180
-
Kumeu Wine Tasting & Local Flavours Tour: Vines, Brews & Views:
$180
-
Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch:
$183
-
Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch:
$186
-
City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach:
$217
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melaka is in Asia and Auckland 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 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Melaka Expensive? and Is Auckland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Auckland?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Auckland, 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.
Related Articles for Melaka
Related Articles for Auckland