A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Melbourne vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park? 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 Khao Sok National Park?

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.

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Melbourne?

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

  • Melbourne Prices
    Australia Prices
    Khao Sok National Park Prices
    Thailand Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Melbourne $195
    Khao Sok National Park $126

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $195, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $126. 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 Khao Sok National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $119
    Khao Sok National Park $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $238
    Khao Sok National Park $56
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Khao Sok National Park

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park? 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 Khao Sok National Park


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melbourne $20
    Khao Sok National Park $74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Airport Bus
    $10
  • Tram Ride
    $2.49

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
  • Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
  • Melbourne CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer 4 or more: $32
  • Melbourne Airport(Tullamarine): Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $32
  • MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
  • Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport: Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $33
  • MEL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $40
  • Melbourne Airport Private Transfer to City: $44
  • Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
  • Airport to City Private Transfer (One-way): $66
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $69
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park 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 $53
    Khao Sok National Park $52
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.62
  • Pizza
    $4.58

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: $49
  • Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
  • Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
  • Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
  • Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
  • Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
  • Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
  • Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
  • Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $27
    Khao Sok National Park $33

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.81
  • Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
  • Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
  • Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
  • Melbourne Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.89
  • Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.89
  • Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.89
  • Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
  • Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
  • Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $13
  • Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $17
    Khao Sok National Park $6.50
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
    $5.07

Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne

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

  • Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
  • Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
  • Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
  • Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
  • Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
  • MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
  • Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
  • Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
  • New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
  • Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
  • Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $115
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $128


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

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



When is the best time to visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park?

Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Sok National Park experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Khao Sok National Park. The summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

In the summer, Melbourne is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Melbourne in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In the summer, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Melbourne usually gets less rain in January than Khao Sok National Parkin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Melbourne is generally much colder than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 15°C (60°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. In April, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Melbourne during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

Melbourne is much colder than Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 9°C (49°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in January.

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Parkin January. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

Melbourne usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Khao Sok National Parkin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Melbourne or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Khao Sok National Park. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Melbourne is much colder than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Melbourne in October average around 14°C (57°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Parkin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F) 
    Khao Sok National Park 29°C (83°F)

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Melbourne

Melbourne Khao Sok National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Mar 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Apr 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 29°C (83°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 345 mm (13.6 in)
Jun 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 286 mm (11.3 in)
Jul 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 284 mm (11.2 in)
Aug 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 28°C (82°F) 272 mm (10.7 in)
Sep 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 417 mm (16.4 in)
Oct 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 351 mm (13.8 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 188 mm (7.4 in)
Dec 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)