Which place is cheaper, Managua or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Melbourne or Managua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne or Managua? 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 Managua?
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.
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
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 Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $179Managua $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $179, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $120Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $240Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Managua? 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.
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 Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Managua $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $958
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $377
- Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne: $321
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Southbank: $215
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $208
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $201
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $188
- Melbourne Private Transfer to Melbourne Airport MEL in Luxury Car: $188
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $179
- Melbourne Hotel to Airport Private Departure Transfer 12 seater mini bus: $167
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $167
- Arrival Transfer from Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Van: $163
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
- Private Transfer from Managua City Hotels to Corinto Cruise Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Managua Augusto Airport to Corinto Port: $71
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua 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
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Food Meals for one dayMelbourne $31Managua $17
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.64
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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: $54
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $87
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
- Pizza Making Party: $100
- Secret Food Tours Melbourne: $107
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $124
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $28Managua $16
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mandarin Melbourne Walking Tour: $17
- 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $126
- 1-hour Yarra River Historical Cruise Tour: $25
- 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-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Melbourne Guide : $171
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Managua City Tour: $84
- Managua City Tour: $88
- Managua Love Stories: A Romantic Tour: $191
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $323
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $164
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
- Masaya volcano Night Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $17Managua $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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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 Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $87
- 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 : $140
- Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
- Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melbourne and Managua, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific and Managua 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Managua.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Managua?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Managua, 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 Managua?
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Managua experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Melbourne or Managua in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Managua. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than Managuain July. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives more sunshine than Managua during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
Managua receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Managuain July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Managua receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Managua 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Managua in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Managua. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year.
Melbourne is much colder than Managua in the autumn. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
In the autumn, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Managuain October. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Managua. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Managuain October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Managua receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Managua 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Managua in the Winter?
Both Managua and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Managua because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Melbourne is much colder than Managua. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July average around 9°C (49°F), and Managua averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Managua. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Managua during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Melbourne usually receives more rain than Managuain January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Managua receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Managua 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Managua in the Spring?
Both Managua and Melbourne during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round.
In October, Melbourne is generally much colder than Managuain April. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Managua fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Managua, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the spring, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Managuain April. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 242 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets more rain in October than Managuain April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Managua receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Managua 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Managua and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Managua | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.