A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Melbourne vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Melbourne or Katoomba?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Melbourne?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $181, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $137. 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 Katoomba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $122
    Katoomba $79
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $244
    Katoomba $158
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Katoomba

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba


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 Katoomba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melbourne $20
    Katoomba $50
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:

  • Melbourne Airport Departure Transfer from Melbourne CBD Hotels: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer: Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB) to Melbourne: $32
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Melbourne to Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB): $32
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Melbourne to Tullamarine Airport (MEL): $39
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $45
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Melbourne Downtown City to Airport: $53
  • Transfer in private Minivan from Melbourne City Downtown to Airport: $65
  • Departure Private Transfer Melbourne City to Melbourne Airport MEL by Sedan Car: $73
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $78
  • Melbourne Airport To CBD Transfers Sedan (Audi A8, BMW 7 & Mercedes S-Class): $78
  • Melbourne AIRPORT TRANSFER: $79
  • Private Transfer: Melbourne to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Katoomba?

Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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
    Katoomba $18
Typical Food prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.64
  • Pizza
    $4.63

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $28
    Katoomba $54

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • Live like a Local: Explore some favourite spots on a playful audio walking tour: $5.40
  • Melbourne Audio Tour: A Self-Guided Walk Through the City: $6.99
  • Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $12
  • Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
  • Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Melbourne Sports Walking Tour: $14
  • Green Cabs Melbourne Tours: $16
  • Eureka Skydeck 88 Admission Ticket: $20
  • ArtVo Immersive Gallery Experience: $22
  • Tour guide services: $22
  • Melbourne Ghost Tour: $23
  • Gangsters & Candy Stores (night tour with laser projector): $25

Tours and Activities in Katoomba

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

  • Amazing Full Day Abseiling Adventure in the Blue Mountains: $198
  • Bathurst Wine Trail Full-Day Private Tour with Tastings: $371
  • Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $111
  • Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and Bilpin Tour from Katoomba with Cider Tasting: $167
  • Blue Mountains Explorer Bus: 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $35
  • Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides: $43
  • Blue Mountains Secret Places Adventure: $118
  • Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillac Tour with Local Guide: $502
  • Blue Mountains: 4WD Adventure Tour with Local Guide: $195
  • Blue Mountains: Private Scenic Tour with Optional Stops: $184
  • From Sydney: Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour Picnic & Hike: $181
  • Full-Day Canyoning Experience at Stunning Empress Canyon: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $17
    Katoomba -
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 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

About these numbers

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


When is the best time to visit Melbourne or Katoomba?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Melbourne or Katoomba in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Katoomba.

In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than Katoomba. Temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Katoomba stays around 24°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In the summer, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Katoomba. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Katoomba. Melbourne usually gets less rain in January than Katoomba. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F) 
    Katoomba 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Melbourne is cooler than Katoomba in the autumn. The temperature in Melbourne is usually 15°C (60°F) in April, and Katoomba stays around 18°C (65°F).

Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during autumn. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In April, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Katoomba. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F) 
    Katoomba 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Katoomba in the Winter?

Both Katoomba and Melbourne during the winter are popular places to visit.

In the winter, Melbourne is cooler than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July are around 9°C (49°F), and Katoomba is about 11°C (51°F).

In Katoomba, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Katoomba. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun.

Melbourne usually gets more rain in July than Katoomba. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F) 
    Katoomba 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Katoomba.

In October, Melbourne is generally cooler than Katoomba. Temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Katoomba stays around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during spring. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of rain as Katoomba. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F) 
    Katoomba 18°C (64°F)

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Melbourne

Melbourne Katoomba
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 24°C (74°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 23°C (74°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Mar 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 22°C (71°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Apr 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (58°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 11°C (51°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Aug 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 12°C (54°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Sep 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 15°C (59°F) 42 mm (1.6 in)
Oct 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Dec 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)


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Melbourne vs. Katoomba Travel Comparison

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