Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Melaka?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Melaka or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Lake Tekapo, 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelaka $21Lake Tekapo $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $21, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelaka $8.38Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelaka $17Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melaka $1.84Lake Tekapo -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.19
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Bus Ride$0.31
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]: $266
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Desaru Transfer [Van]: $83
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Car]: $216
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $241
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $95
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $201
- Local Transfer: Kuala Tembeling Jetty (Taman Negara) to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels: $72
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $50
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $10Lake Tekapo $13
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)$6.29
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$2.73
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.26
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.05
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$6.71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melaka $3.55Lake Tekapo -
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$0.63
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.19
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$9.43
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.10
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.47
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Low Cost Kite$0.63
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Malacca Duck Tour$8.39
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.10
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka Upside Down House Admission Tickets: $4.49
- Melaka Upside Down House Admission Tickets: $12
- Malacca Illusion 3D Art Museum Admission Tickets: $19
- 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 City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City 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
- *14 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Van Tour from Melaka w' Tour Guide: $102
- *15 Hrs KL & Genting Highlands Van Tour from Melaka w' Tour Guide: $110
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $219
- Malacca Shore Excursion from Cruise Port with Local Guide & Lunch: $222
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Lake Tekapo Tour Scenic 4WD Mountains & Glaciers: $182
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
- Arthur's Pass and Mount Cook: 2-Day Tour From Christchurch: $1,455
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
- From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
- Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $178
- Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours: $178
- Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $178
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelaka $7.27Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Lake Tekapo?
Melaka has a larger population, and is about 550 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Lake Tekapo, 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.