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

Should you visit Melbourne or Guatemala City?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City?

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.

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Melbourne?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $210, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $56. 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 Guatemala City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $128
    Guatemala City $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $256
    Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Guatemala City

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City


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 Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melbourne $21
    Guatemala City $6.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Airport Bus
    $11
  • Tram Ride
    $2.68

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne

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

  • Melbourne Airport: Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $16
  • Melbourne Airport(Tullamarine): Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $32
  • MEL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $40
  • Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
  • Airport to City Private Transfer (One-way): $66
  • Private Airport Transfer from Melbourne Airport to City Center: $73
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $78
  • Nighttime Private City Tour with Transfer & Stops: $81
  • Private Melbourne Airport to City Transfer: $85
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $85
  • Melbourne hotels to Melbourne Airport (MEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $86
  • Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Transfer from La Aurora airport to Antigua Guatemala.: $80
  • Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
  • San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $41
  • Private transfer from La Aurora Airport to Panajachel: $78
  • Private transfer from Airport to Panajachel: $78
  • Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
  • Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua – One-Way: $40
  • Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $199
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Guatemala City?

Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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 $57
    Guatemala City $27
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.82
  • Pizza
    $4.93

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne

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

  • Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
  • Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
  • BACCHUS MARSH: Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $57
  • Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $86
  • Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
  • Secret Food Tour: $109
  • Yarra Valley Full Day Grazing Tour: Gin, Wine, Pizza, Cheese: $125
  • Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130
  • Melbourne Food Tour Hidden Laneways: History & Progressive Lunch: $133

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.

  • Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
  • Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
  • Pacaya Volcano Private Tour: Nature, Adventure and Pizza: $175
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
  • Pacaya Volcano. Tour and pizza making on Volcanic Heat: $275
  • Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $29
    Guatemala City $1.23

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • Self Guided Tour of Melbourne's Best Kept Secrets: $1.12
  • Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $3.41
  • Melbourne Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.58
  • Fitzroy Noir Mystery Crimes and the Occult Tour: $3.58
  • Melbourne St Kilda Self-Guided Walking City Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.01
  • Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.17
  • Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
  • Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
  • Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
  • Melbourne City Magic Self Guided Walking Tour with an App: $9.99
  • Self Guided Walking Tour in Melbourne St Kilda Penguins: $9.99
  • Rippon Lea Estate Garden Admission Ticket: $11

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
  • 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
  • 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
  • 3 Days Tour in Acatenango Volcano: $265
  • 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
  • 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
  • Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
  • Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
  • Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $89
  • Antigua Guatemala Express Half Day Colonial Charm Tour: $45
  • Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $85
  • Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $18
    Guatemala City $6.95
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
    $5.46

Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne

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

  • Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour - Self-Guided GPS Audio Guide: $25
  • Saturday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $25
  • Tuesday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $25
  • Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
  • Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
  • Rock'n'roll venues pub crawl including 2 free drinks and history: $57
  • Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley.: $71
  • Relaxed Half Day Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Melbourne: $85
  • New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
  • Yarra Valley Kangaroos Wine Tasting and Lunch from Melbourne: $100
  • Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116

Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City

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

  • Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105


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

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


Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Guatemala City?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Guatemala City, 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.