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

Should you visit Melbourne or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Khao Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park Prices
    Thailand Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Melbourne $195
    Khao Yai National Park $85

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $195, while the average daily cost in Khao Yai National Park is $85. 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 Yai National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $119
    Khao Yai National Park $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $238
    Khao Yai National Park $82
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Khao Yai National Park

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Khao Yai 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 Yai 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 Yai National Park $16
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:

  • Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $69
  • Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
  • Sydney Airport Transfer to Sydney CBD/ Other Suburbs: $96
  • Starways Chauffeur - Airport Transfer & Chauffeurs in Melbourne: $91
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $82
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $82
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $87
  • Private Airport Transfer from Melbourne Airport to City Center: $129
  • Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $201
  • Nighttime Private City Tour with Transfer & Stops: $81

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

Prices for flights to both Khao Yai 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 Yai National Park $33
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: $40
  • 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: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $27
    Khao Yai National Park $10

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • English Melbourne Walking Tour: $17
  • Experience Yarra Valley: A Tailored private Wine Journey: $269
  • Melbourne Laneways and Galleries Impressionist Art Walking Tour: $84
  • Wilsons Promontory Hiking Day Tour - 8 Person Max Small Group : $147
  • 1 day Lake mountain snow tour : $73
  • 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $147
  • 1.5Hr Yarra River Crown Flames and City Lights Cruise: $317
  • 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road Private Smal Group Tour FREE entries: $83
  • 12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road Day Tour - 8 person max: $147
  • 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $843
  • 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $60
  • 4D3N Best Bits Victoria Sightseeing Tour: $992

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $17
    Khao Yai National Park $13
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: $116
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $129


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



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

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

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Yai National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than Khao Yai National Parkin July. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. Melbourne usually receives more sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Parkin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (83°F)

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

Both Khao Yai National Park and Melbourne during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Yai National Park year-round.

Melbourne is much colder than Khao Yai National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Parkin October. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Khao Yai National Parkin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 28°C (82°F)

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Khao Yai National Park. Most visitors come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Khao Yai National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Melbourne is much colder than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July average around 9°C (49°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Yai National Park this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Melbourne usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Parkin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 26°C (78°F)

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

The spring brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Khao Yai National Park. The spring months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches and the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Yai National Park throughout the year.

In October, Melbourne is generally much colder than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 30°C (87°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In the spring, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Melbourne usually gets less rain in October than Khao Yai National Parkin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F) 
    Khao Yai National Park 30°C (87°F)

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Melbourne

Melbourne Khao Yai National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 30°C (86°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Apr 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 30°C (87°F) 128 mm (5.1 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 30°C (85°F) 225 mm (8.8 in)
Jun 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 29°C (84°F) 277 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (83°F) 315 mm (12.4 in)
Aug 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 28°C (83°F) 385 mm (15.1 in)
Sep 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 360 mm (14.2 in)
Oct 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 173 mm (6.8 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Dec 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)