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

Should you visit Melaka or Wollongong?

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

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

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.

Wollongong

Wollongong is south of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the third largest city in the state. Wollongong has a unique geography in that it is only six kilometers wide at its widest point and is forty kilometers long. It is squeezed in between the mountains and the ocean and in the process of growth, has swallowed several coastal towns between Dapto and Port Kembla. Wollongong is home to the University of Wollongong and has a diverse population that includes people of Serbian, Croatian, Italian, and Turkish descent among other nationalities. The influence of these cultures is obvious in the city's restaurant and entertainment options. Throughout the city you'll find some wonderful beaches with few crowds and some decent surfing opportunities.

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


Which place is cheaper, Wollongong or Melaka?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $21, while the average daily cost in Wollongong is $121. 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 Wollongong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melaka $8.38
    Wollongong $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melaka $17
    Wollongong $130
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Wollongong

Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Wollongong? 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 Wollongong


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 Wollongong Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melaka $1.84
    Wollongong $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka

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


  • Taxi
    $4.19
  • 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 Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $241
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Car]: $216
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $201
  • Malacca to KUL City Hotel (One Way Transfer): $118
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $95
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Desaru Transfer [Van]: $83
  • Local Transfer: Kuala Tembeling Jetty (Taman Negara) to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels: $72
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $66
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $66
  • Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Wollongong?

Prices for flights to both Wollongong 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 $10
    Wollongong $30
Typical Food Prices in Melaka

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


  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $6.29
  • Dinner at the Market (for Two)
    $2.73
  • Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)
    $1.26
  • Taiwanese Noodle Soup
    $1.05
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $6.71

Typical Food Prices in Wollongong

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


  • Lunch
    $7.79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melaka $3.55
    Wollongong $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka

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


  • Maritime Museum Entrance
    $0.63
  • Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
    $4.19
  • Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
    $9.43
  • Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
    $2.10
  • Melaka Zoo Entrance
    $1.47
  • Low Cost Kite
    $0.63
  • Malacca Duck Tour
    $8.39
  • 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.

  • *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
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in Kuala Lumpur from Malacca Port: $295
  • Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
  • 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 City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
  • Malacca Illusion 3D Art Museum Admission Tickets: $19
  • Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $219
  • Malacca Shore Excursion from Cruise Port with Local Guide & Lunch: $222
  • Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch: $222
  • Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melaka $7.27
    Wollongong $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Wollongong, we can see that Wollongong 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 Wollongong 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 Wollongong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wollongong 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 Wollongong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Melaka or Wollongong?

Wollongong has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Wollongong, 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.