Which place is cheaper, Brussels or Melaka?
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 Melaka or Brussels?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Brussels, 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 Brussels?
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.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Belgium.
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Melaka Prices
Malaysia PricesBrussels Prices
Belgium Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelaka $33Brussels $191
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $33, while the average daily cost in Brussels is $191. 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 Brussels in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelaka $9.67Brussels $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelaka $19Brussels $170
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Brussels
Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Brussels? 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 Brussels Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melaka $2.12Brussels $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.83
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Bus Ride$0.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $80
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Desaru Transfer [Car]: $238
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Van]: $80
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $73
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $170
- Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port: $64
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $232
- Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $64
- ~Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $284
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
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Subway Pass$5.22
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Atomium train ticket (2)$9.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brussels
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
- Brussels & Atomium: Private Tour with Transfer and Tasting: $813
- Private transfer from Brussels to Amsterdam, 2h Stop in Antwerp: $295
- Private Transfer from Brussels Airport (BRU) to IJmuiden Port: $292
- Private Transfer from Brussels Airport or city to Rotterdam By Business car: $289
- VIP Transfer between Brussels Airport (BRU) and Antwerp: $268
- Private Transfer From Brussels To Circuit SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Belgium Luxury car: $231
- Private transfer in Belgium Brussels Charleroi: $220
- Direct private transfer from Brussels to Bruges, 2h Stop in Ghent: $209
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels to Maastricht by Business car: $207
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $188
- Private door-to-door transfer from Brussels to Lille, France: $185
- Transfer Shuttle Leuven Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 to 8 Places): $185
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Brussels?
Prices for flights to both Brussels 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
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Food Meals for one dayMelaka $21Brussels $77
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)$7.25
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.14
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.45
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.21
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.73
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
Typical Food Prices in Brussels
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
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Ice Cream & Macaroons$5.34
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Dessert (Turkish Delights)$5.51
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Cheese$6.50
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Olives and Snacks$8.10
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Waffle$3.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brussels
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Chocolate and Beer Food Tour of Brussels: $45
- City Center Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $74
- Brussels Food Tour: Main Dish, Beer, Waffle & Chocolate: $93
- Brussels Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $99
- Walking Food Tour with Chocolate, Beer, & Waffles: $111
- Brussels Food Tour: 10 Tastings of Waffles, Beers, Fries & More: $125
- Food Tour of 10 Tastings - Waffles, Beers & More: $147
- Brussels Private Food Tour: Waffles, Fries, Beer & Local History: $149
- Market Tour and Cooking Lesson with a Belgian Gourmet Meal in a Brussels Home: $179
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $183
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melaka $4.10Brussels $27
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$0.73
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.83
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.42
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.69
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Low Cost Kite$0.73
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.67
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.42
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: $7.13
- Malaysia Melaka - Breakout Escape Game E-Ticket: $12
- 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 To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $75
- Private Half-Day Melaka Walking Tour: $81
Tours and Activities in Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "From Waterloo Battlefield History Private Tour: $500
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in Fall and Rise of Art Nouveau: $17
- 3-Hours Private Sightseeing Trip in Brussels: $238
- 600 Years of History and Heritage: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Leuven: $5.99
- Architecture Tour of Brussels: $29
- Artistic Bruges on a Private Tour with a local: $75
- Audio Guided Walking Tour of Brussels: $5.79
- Axe Throwing Experience: $20
- Battle of the Bulge & Gen Patton Private Tour from Brussels: $1,454
- Belgian Beer World Experience and GoPhoto ticket included: $31
- Belgium: Discover the best of Brussels on our guided tour: $29
- Best Intro tour of Brussels with a Local: $129
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelaka $8.38Brussels $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$12
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Beer$6.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Brussels
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
- Mario Kart Championship at Micro Brewery & Distillery: $5.21
- BBQ night at Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery: $15
- Immersive Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings - Brussels Area: $18
- Brussels Pub Crawl - Nightlife & Party Experience: $20
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Party Experience: $23
- micro brewery & distillery tour + beer tasting: $29
- Beer & Chocolate Tasting in a Micro Brewery-Distillery: $52
- Sip the Unexpected at a Hidden Leuven Brewery: $58
- Gin Cocktail Workshop at a Brussels Brewery & Distillery: $66
- Private tasting: Beer & Chocolate in a Micro Brewery-Distillery: $75
- Beer Pong in a Micro Brewery and Distillery: $76
- Brewing Workshop at Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Brussels, we can see that Brussels 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 Brussels is in Europe, 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 Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels 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 Brussels Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Brussels?
Brussels has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Brussels, 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.