A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Melbourne vs. Nadi (Port Denarau) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Melbourne or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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.

Nadi (Port Denarau)

Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Melbourne?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $176, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $164. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $118
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $103
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $236
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $206
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Nadi (Port Denarau)

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)


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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melbourne $19
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Airport Bus
    $10
  • Tram Ride
    $2.47

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: One-Way Transfer to Melbourne: $29
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Cruise Port to Melbourne hotels: $38
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $52
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $79
  • From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne: $79
  • Nighttime Private City Tour with Transfer & Stops: $80
  • Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Melbourne Airport Private Transfer: $85
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $86
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $86
  • Luxury Airport Transfers & Best Limo Service in Melbourne: $87
  • Mt Buller 1 Day Snow Tour (Direct Transfer To Mt Buller Village From Melbourne): $89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):

  • Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $169
  • Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
  • Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $49
  • Shared Transfer To Nadi Airport from Denarau Resorts: $9.01
  • Shared Shuttle Departure Transfers - Denarau,Wailoaloa & Nadi to Nadi Airport: $11
  • Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $57
  • Round-trip Nadi Int Airport - Denarau Hotels (Private Transfer): $27
  • Round-Trip Transfer -Nadi Airport - Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay: $54
  • Round trip Transfer Airport to Coral Coast /Denarau Hotels : $55
  • Round Trip Transfer -Nadi Airport to Intercontinental Resort : $61
  • Round Trip Private Transfer From Nadi Airport To Your Resort : $21
  • Private Transfers Nadi Airport-Outrigger Resorts/Crow's Nest Resort/ Bedarra Inn: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 $30
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $39
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.60
  • Pizza
    $4.54

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
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $78
  • Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
  • The Q Train - Table For 2 - Dinner (Departing Drysdale): $92
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $97
  • Secret Food Tour: $109
  • Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
  • Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $122
  • Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $129
  • Indian Cooking Master Class: $130
  • Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $130

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nadi (Port Denarau).

  • Robinson Crusoe Sunset Cruise Including Dinner, Cultural Show & Transfers: $121
  • Super Saver Combo: Tivua Island Day Cruise + Sunset Dinner Cruise in Fiji: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $27
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $32

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • Melbourne:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.21
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.27
  • Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
  • Marvellous A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • MoPA Children's Museum Admission Ticket: $9.15
  • Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.80
  • Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.80
  • Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $9.80
  • Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.80
  • Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11

Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:

  • ''Coral Coast Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Natadola Beach !'': $144
  • "Coral Coast Cultural Tour: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $105
  • 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $164
  • 6 Hours Giant Zipline Adventure Park in Fiji: $90
  • Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
  • Barefoot Kuata Day Cruise from Denarau: $130
  • Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
  • Biausevu Waterfall with New Dawn Tours Fiji: $82
  • CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $104
  • Colo-i-Suva Waterfall Tour (Suva): $99
  • Coral Coast Heritage Tour: $157
  • Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $17
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $11
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
    $5.03

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: $25
  • Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
  • Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $86
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $116
  • Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $127
  • Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $139
  • Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
  • Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $179
  • Champion Racehorse Tour with Beer and Wine Tasting: $192
  • Yarra Valley Full Day Private Wine Tour : $245


When comparing the travel costs between Melbourne and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.