Which place is cheaper, Coffs Harbour or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Melbourne vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Melbourne or Coffs Harbour?
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $182Coffs Harbour $138
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $182, while the average daily cost in Coffs Harbour is $138. 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 Melbourne and Coffs Harbour in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $123Coffs Harbour $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $246Coffs Harbour $128
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Coffs Harbour
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Coffs Harbour? 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: Melbourne Hotel Prices and Coffs Harbour Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Coffs Harbour $23
Typical Local Transportation prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from Melbourne Downtown City to Airport: $53
- Transfer in private Minivan from Melbourne City Downtown to Airport: $65
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Moorabbin Airport (MBW): $622
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $80
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Essendon Fields Airport (MEB): $106
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Avalon International Airport (AVV): $212
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Port Canaveral: $246
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $333
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $319
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $45
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $78
- Private Airport Transfer: from Melbourne to Tullamarine Airport (MEL): $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Coffs Harbour?
Prices for flights to both Coffs Harbour and Melbourne 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 dayMelbourne $31Coffs Harbour $52
Typical Food prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.66
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Pizza$4.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Eynesbury Homestead: Dinner and 1.5-Hour Ghost Tour: $54
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $63
- Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class: $72
- Spice Factory 3-Hour Indian Cooking Class: $90
- Private Australian Cooking Class in Melbourne using Native Produce: $125
- Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Melbourne Private Food Tour: $131
- Vegan Cooking Class: $146
- Private Modern Australian Cooking Class with a Professional Chef in Melbourne: $166
- Private Market Tour and Australian Cooking Class with a Local Chef in her Home: $203
- [PRIVATE TOUR] Best Of Melbourne Food Tours: $462
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $28Coffs Harbour $42
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- '56 Chevrolet 3-Hour Bespoke Melbourne Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $379
- '56 Chevrolet 6-Hour Bespoke Melbourne Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $683
- '56 Chevrolet 6-Hour Dandenong Ranges Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $683
- '56 Chevrolet 6-Hour Yarra Valley Indulgence Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $683
- 12 Apostles Eco-Friendly Great Ocean Road Iconic Adventure from Melbourne: $119
- 12 Apostles and Shipwreck Coast Express Private Tour: $375
- 2 Day Exclusively Private Tour Of Phillip Island & The Great Ocean Road: $1,276
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Tour and Platypus paddle: $351
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Tour from Melbourne: $210
- 2-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Tour Roundtrip from Melbourne: $257
- 2-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Tour from Melbourne: $217
- 2-Day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Tour with Penguin Parade: $348
Typical Entertainment prices in Coffs Harbour
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Coffs Harbour's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surfing Museum (for 2)$7.31
Tours and Activities in Coffs Harbour
For Coffs Harbour, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Coastal Adventure: $116
- Coffs Harbour - Jetty by Bike Tour: $43
- 1-Hour All Terrain Segway Tour: $57
- Rainforest & Waterfall Experience: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $17Coffs Harbour $8.55
Typical Alcohol prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Bar Hunt: Melbourne Breakout Bar Crawl: $12
- Melbourne CBD Pub Crawl: $16
- Carlton Brewhouse Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $24
- Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour from Melbourne: $78
- Hops and Barrels- Hop on Hop off Wine Tour Mornington Peninsula.: $83
- Small-Group Guided Yarra Valley Winery Tour with Wine Tasting: $104
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Local Harvest Tastings from Melbourne: $115
- Yarra Valley Local Produce and Wine Tasting Tour: $115
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $115
- Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour Departing from Melbourne: $118
- Mornington Peninsula Winery Tour Including Wine Tastings and 2-Course Lunch: $118
- Yarra Valley Smaller Wineries Food and Wine Tour: $134
Sample the Local Flavors in Coffs Harbour
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Coffs Harbour:
- Dangar Falls and Dorrigo National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Lunch: $242
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melbourne and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Coffs Harbour much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Coffs Harbour would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Coffs Harbour 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne than you might in Coffs Harbour.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?
Both Coffs Harbour and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than Coffs Harbour. Temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Coffs Harbour stays around 23°C (74°F).
It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. Melbourne usually receives more sunshine than Coffs Harbour during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbour. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Coffs Harbour 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?
Both Coffs Harbour and Melbourne during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Melbourne is cooler than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The temperature in Melbourne is usually 15°C (60°F) in April, and Coffs Harbour stays around 20°C (67°F).
In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbour. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun.
Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Coffs Harbour. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Coffs Harbour 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Coffs Harbour.
In the winter, Melbourne is cooler than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July are around 9°C (49°F), and Coffs Harbour is about 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbour. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Coffs Harbour 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Coffs Harbour.
In October, Melbourne is generally cooler than Coffs Harbour. Temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Coffs Harbour stays around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In the spring, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbour. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Melbourne usually gets less rain in October than Coffs Harbour. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Coffs Harbour 19°C (66°F)
Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Coffs Harbour | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 241 mm (9.5 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 215 mm (8.5 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 177 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 136 mm (5.4 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
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