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

Should you visit Melaka or Zhangye?

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

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

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.

Zhangye

Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.

Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangye 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 Zhangye is $85. 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 Zhangye in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melaka $8.38
    Zhangye $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melaka $17
    Zhangye $76
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Zhangye

Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Zhangye? 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 Zhangye


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melaka $1.84
    Zhangye $38
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:

  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Seremban city: $38
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $43
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
  • Malacca to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $45
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $49
  • Melaka Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Melaka Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $66
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $66

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:

  • Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
  • Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Zhangye?

Prices for flights to both Zhangye 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
    Zhangye $25
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melaka $3.55
    Zhangye $10
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.

  • 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 Zhangye

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:

  • Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
  • Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
  • Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
  • Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
  • Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
  • Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
  • Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
  • Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melaka $7.27
    Zhangye $6.90


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


Which is Bigger, Melaka or Zhangye?

Melaka has a larger population, and is about 88% larger than the population of Zhangye. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Zhangye, 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.