Which place is cheaper, Flores 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 Flores?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Flores, 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 Flores?
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.
Flores
The town of Flores is located in Peten, Guatemala. The main hub is located on an island on Lago Peten Itza, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway are the towns of Santa Elena and San Benito, however, all three are often referred to as Flores. Most people visit the area for its proximity to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, though the town itself is also charming with colonial buildings and historic churches lining the cobbled streets.
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 Guatemala, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Guatemala.
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Melaka Prices
Malaysia PricesFlores Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelaka $34Flores $43
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $34, while the average daily cost in Flores is $43. 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 Flores in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelaka $9.83Flores $8.77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelaka $20Flores $18
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Flores
Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Flores? 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 Flores Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melaka $2.16Flores $8.00
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:
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city: $116
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $244
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $170
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $43
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer: $218
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $212
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores
Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Same day Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $160
- Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $90
- One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $49
- Transfer from Flores to Semuc Champey, Lanquin, Tourists Only: $40
- Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Rio Dulce, Izabal: $39
- From Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Tikal: $39
- Tikal National Park Guided Tour with Transfers: $24
- Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
- Belize/Caye Caulke/San Pedro Van or Ferry Transfer: $20
- Transfer : Mayan World Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Flores?
Prices for flights to both Flores 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 $21Flores $23
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: $76
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melaka $4.17Flores $20
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.
- *13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $84
- 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 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: $183
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
Typical Entertainment Prices in Flores
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Tikal Entrance (for 2)$39
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Map of Tikal$3.27
Tours and Activities in Flores
For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Day Tour to Tikal and Yaxhá from Flores Island: $220
- 4 Hours Private Tour to see the sunset at El Rey Canek Viewpoint: $100
- All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores and Airport: $105
- All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores or Mayan World Airport: $78
- Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
- 1-Day Tikal Tour Private Service From your Hotel: $185
- Blue Crater, Imox Lagoon & Hidden Pools Tour: $75
- Tikal National Park Tour with Mayan Energy Reading: $222
- Yaxha Shared Sunset Tour with Transportation & Guide: $25
- From Flores Guided Tour to Tikal with transportation + lunch: $75
- From Flores Petén: Tour to Playa 3 Naciones: $150
- From 2-Day Semuc Champey Tour with Caves & Tubing: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelaka $8.52Flores $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:
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Two Margaritas$2.62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Flores, we can see that Flores 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 Flores is in Central America, 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 Flores would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Flores 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 Flores Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Flores?
Melaka has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Flores. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Flores, 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.