A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Melaka vs. Koyasan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Melaka or Koyasan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Koyasan, 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 Koyasan?

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.

Koyasan

Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Koyasan 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 $33, while the average daily cost in Koyasan is $95. 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 Koyasan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melaka $9.51
    Koyasan $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melaka $19
    Koyasan $82
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Koyasan

Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Koyasan? 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.

Hotels in Melaka


Hotels in Koyasan


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 Koyasan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melaka $2.09
    Koyasan $34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:


  • Taxi
    $4.75
  • 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 [Car]: $281
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $80
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $80
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $212
  • Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $99
  • Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
  • Private Transfer : National Park Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
  • Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
  • Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port: $66
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $251
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $120
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City: $239

Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Koyasan?

Prices for flights to both Koyasan 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 $20
    Koyasan $34
Typical Food Prices in Melaka

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:


  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $7.13
  • Dinner at the Market (for Two)
    $3.09
  • Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)
    $1.43
  • Taiwanese Noodle Soup
    $1.19
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $7.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka

For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Peranakan and Malay Cooking Class in Malacca: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melaka $4.03
    Koyasan $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka

For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Maritime Museum Entrance
    $0.71
  • Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
    $4.75
  • Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
    $11
  • Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
    $2.38
  • Melaka Zoo Entrance
    $1.66
  • Low Cost Kite
    $0.71
  • Malacca Duck Tour
    $9.51
  • Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)
    $2.38

Tours and Activities in Melaka

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.

  • Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.15
  • Malaysia Melaka - Breakout Escape Game E-Ticket: $13
  • Malaysia: Melaka A'famosa Water Park & Safari Wonderland Ticket: $15
  • Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
  • A'Famosa Safari and Water Park in Melaka Ticket (Only Malaysian): $28
  • 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 Tour: $49
  • Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
  • Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melaka $8.25
    Koyasan $5.07


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Koyasan, we can see that Koyasan is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Koyasan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koyasan 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 Koyasan Expensive?.