A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Melbourne vs. Roatan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Melbourne or Roatan?

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

Should I visit Melbourne or Roatan? 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 Roatan?

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.

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

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 Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Melbourne?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $206, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melbourne $126
    Roatan $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melbourne $252
    Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Roatan? 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 Roatan


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 $21
    Roatan $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Airport Bus
    $11
  • Tram Ride
    $2.62

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: $20
  • Melbourne Airport to City/CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $32
  • Melbourne Airport(Tullamarine): Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $32
  • MEL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $40
  • Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
  • Airport to City Private Transfer (One-way): $66
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $79
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $79
  • Nighttime Private City Tour with Transfer & Stops: $81
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $84
  • Melbourne Private Taxi Airport Transfers and Day Trips: $85

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $3.93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
  • Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
  • South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
  • Scuba Dive in the West End of Roatan with Private Transfer: $155
  • Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $56
  • Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $128
  • Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
  • Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $61
  • Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
  • Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
  • Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $152
  • Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $121

Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $55
    Roatan $15
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.76
  • Pizza
    $4.82

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
  • Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
  • Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
  • Street Food Tour in Melbourne's Inner North: $77
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $90
  • Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
  • Secret Food Tour: $109
  • Pizza Making Party: $112
  • Yarra Valley Full Day Grazing Tour: Gin, Wine, Pizza, Cheese: $125
  • Spanish Hands on Cooking Class: $127

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.

  • Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife: $70
  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melbourne $29
    Roatan $25

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • Self Guided Tour of Melbourne's Best Kept Secrets: $3.49
  • Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $3.49
  • Melbourne St Kilda Self-Guided Walking City Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.95
  • Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $8.15
  • Marvellous A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
  • Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
  • Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
  • Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
  • Self Guided Walking Tour in Melbourne St Kilda Penguins: $9.99
  • Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
  • Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
  • Shrine of Remembrance Cultural Guided Tour in Melbourne: $14

Tours and Activities in Roatan

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

  • 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
  • 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
  • 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
  • ATV & community adventure, Mangrove tour, food tasting and Beach: $139
  • ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
  • ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
  • Atv Island Tour: $140
  • Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
  • Cruise Ship Tour Package from Roatan: $70
  • Custom Private Tour of Roatan Activities for the Whole Family: $60
  • Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
  • Customizable Roatán Private Tour: Rum, Chocolate & Island Culture: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melbourne $18
    Roatan $6.53
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
    $5.34

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: $18
  • Saturday Melbourne Bar Crawl: $18
  • Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
  • Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
  • Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
  • MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $27
  • Rock'n'roll venues pub crawl including 2 free drinks and history: $56
  • Relaxed Half Day Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour from Melbourne: $77
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour from Melbourne - Choc, Gin & Good Times: $81
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour w Exclusive Gin, Cider & Chocolate tasting: $81
  • New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
  • Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116

Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:

  • Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
  • Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125


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

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


Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Roatan?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 500 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Roatan, 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.