A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Melbourne vs. Gothenburg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Melbourne or Gothenburg?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Gothenburg? 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 Gothenburg?

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.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.


Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Melbourne?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $179, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is $98. 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 Gothenburg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $120
    Gothenburg $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $240
    Gothenburg $80
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Gothenburg

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Gothenburg? 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 Melbourne


Hotels in Gothenburg


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 Gothenburg Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melbourne $20
    Gothenburg $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:


  • Airport Bus
    $11
  • Tram Ride
    $2.51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne

Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $99
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne APT-HTL (MEL): $99
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne hotels to Melbourne Cruise Port: $38
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $52
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $52
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $86
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $79
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $86
  • Private Airport Transfer in Melbourne: $99
  • Mt Buller 1 Day Snow Tour (Direct Transfer To Mt Buller Village From Melbourne): $89
  • Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $198

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $146
  • Trondheim Vaernes Airport TRD to Are Resort - Round-Trip Transfer: $230
  • Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
  • Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $65
  • Private Transfer from Gothenburg Airport (GOT) to Goteborg Port: $50
  • Private Transfer from Goteborg Cruise Port to Gothenburg City: $65
  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $509
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $120
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $176
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Gothenburg?

Prices for flights to both Gothenburg 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Melbourne $31
    Gothenburg $38
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    $2.64
  • Pizza
    $4.62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne

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

  • Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
  • Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $53
  • Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
  • Pizza Making Party: $89
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
  • Secret Food Tour: $109
  • Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
  • Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $122
  • Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $130
  • Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $28
    Gothenburg $16

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
  • 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $125
  • 1.5Hr Yarra River Crown Flames and City Lights Cruise: $317
  • 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road Eco Tour with lunch from Melbourne: $109
  • 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $810
  • 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $66
  • 2024 Mt Buller, Melbourne Snow and Sightseeing Day Tour: $92
  • 3 Hour Rainforest Walking Tour in Badger Creek: $40
  • 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Small-Group Tour: $1,504
  • 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
  • 3/4 Day Sports Lovers Bus Tour of Melbourne with Tour Options: $178
  • 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $40

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Days Private Tour in Gothenburg: $300
  • 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
  • Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $40
  • Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $113
  • City Kayak Tour: $60
  • City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
  • Discover Gothenburg - Private Walking Tour: $224
  • Egypt Oasis Adventure Package: $926
  • Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
  • Entry Ticket To Universeum in Gothenburg with pickup: $65
  • Fascinating Gothenburg Walking Tour for Couples: $257
  • Fatbike Experience in Sorsele: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $17
    Gothenburg $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $5.12

Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne

Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
  • Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
  • Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
  • Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
  • Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $86
  • Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $102
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $116
  • Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $129
  • Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $139
  • Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
  • Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
  • Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $178


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melbourne and Gothenburg, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific and Gothenburg is in Europe, 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 Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Gothenburg?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Gothenburg, 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.


When is the best time to visit Melbourne or Gothenburg?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Melbourne is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Gothenburg has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Melbourne or Gothenburg in the Summer?

Both Gothenburg and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Melbourne is a little warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Melbourne in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Gothenburg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. Melbourne usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Gothenburgin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F) 
    Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Gothenburg in the Autumn?

Both Gothenburg and Melbourne during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.

In April, Melbourne is generally much warmer than Gothenburgin October. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 15°C (60°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the autumn, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Gothenburgin October. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun.

Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Gothenburgin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F) 
    Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Gothenburg in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Gothenburg. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. Melbourne is much warmer than Gothenburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 9°C (49°F) in July, and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F)in January.

Melbourne usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Gothenburgin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F) 
    Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Gothenburg in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Gothenburg. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Melbourne is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Melbourne in October average around 14°C (57°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 5°C (41°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In the spring, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Gothenburgin April. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun.

Melbourne usually gets more rain in October than Gothenburgin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F) 
    Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)

Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Melbourne

Melbourne Gothenburg
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) -2°C (29°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) -2°C (29°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 1°C (34°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Apr 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 5°C (41°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Jun 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 16°C (61°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Aug 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 16°C (60°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Sep 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Oct 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 9°C (47°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 4°C (38°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Dec 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 0°C (32°F) 75 mm (3 in)