Which place is cheaper, Kingston 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 Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Kingston, 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 Kingston?
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.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
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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Melaka Prices
Malaysia PricesKingston Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelaka $34Kingston $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $34, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $125. 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 Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelaka $9.90Kingston $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelaka $20Kingston $124
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Kingston? 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 Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melaka $2.18Kingston $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.95
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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 Transfer: $139
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $82
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $188
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $215
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer: $222
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $172
- ~Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Montego Bay: 5-Day Jamaica Tour with Meals and Transfers: $2,200
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Private Transfer to Ocho Rios: $319
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $267
- Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (10 - 15 Persons): $251
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast: $240
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $200
- Private Transfer from Kingston hotel to Falmouth Cruise Port: $200
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Moon Palace Jamaica Grande: $200
- Montego Bay Airport(One-Way) Transfer to Kingston Hotels: $195
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to or from Hotels in Falmouth Area: $173
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $167
- Transfer from Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston Hotels: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston 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 $21Kingston $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)$7.43
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.22
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.49
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.24
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $51
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melaka $4.20Kingston $12
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$4.95
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.48
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.73
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Low Cost Kite$0.74
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.90
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.48
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $5.08
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.27
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $18
- 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 To Kuala Lumpur 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 Tour: $49
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $51
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Black River Safari Tour from Kingston: $272
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $180
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley House and Dunns River Falls Private Tour: $150
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelaka $8.59Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Kingston, we can see that Kingston 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 Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston 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 Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Kingston, 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.