Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Melbourne or Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne or Saint Thomas? 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 Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Melbourne Prices
Australia PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $195Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $195, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $119Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $238Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Saint Thomas? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Saint Thomas $37
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$10
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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
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $201
- MEL Airport Transfer to Melbourne CBD Private Van Hire: $201
- Melbourne Private Transfer to Melbourne Airport MEL in Luxury Car: $196
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $196
- Melbourne CBD Transfer to MEL Airport Private Van Hire: $195
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $178
- Airport Private Van Transfer to City: $172
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne by Luxury Van: $168
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $168
- CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer - 11 traveler's: $129
- Private Airport Transfer from Melbourne Airport to City Center: $129
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- VI Top Taxi and Tours - St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $90
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $83
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- St.Thomas island to Cyril E. King Airport(STT)-Departure Transfer: $135
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $144
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to The Ritz Carlton Resort: $144
- ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $180
- Private Hotel and Resorts Transfers: $173
- Private Ground Transfers: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $53Saint Thomas $94
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.62
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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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
- Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
- Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $27Saint Thomas $60
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
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Island Icons & Treasures Tour - St. Thomas USVI : $199
- Magens Bay Trail Hiking Tour: $60
- Two-Hour Sightseeing Excursion : $58
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours USVI-Coki Beach Snorkeling Tour : $68
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 1.5 Hour Private Mini Jeep Tour on St. Thomas: $220
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- Best of Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Adventure with Picnic Lunch: $159
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $17Saint Thomas $27
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$5.07
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 Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas is more expensive. And not only is Melbourne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific and Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Melbourne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Melbourne 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas than you might in Melbourne.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Saint Thomas?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Saint Thomas, 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 Saint Thomas?
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Thomas experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Melbourne or Saint Thomas in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Saint Thomas. The summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Saint Thomas attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than Saint Thomasin July. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Thomas this time of the year. In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Thomas during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Saint Thomasin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Saint Thomas 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Saint Thomas in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Saint Thomas. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Thomas throughout the year.
Melbourne is much colder than Saint Thomas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Thomas. In the autumn, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin October. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 235 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Saint Thomas. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Saint Thomasin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Saint Thomas 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Saint Thomas in the Winter?
Both Saint Thomas and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Thomas because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Melbourne is much colder than Saint Thomas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July average around 9°C (49°F), and Saint Thomas averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Saint Thomas. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Saint Thomas during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Thomas receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Thomasin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Saint Thomas 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Saint Thomas in the Spring?
Both Saint Thomas and Melbourne during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Thomas year-round.
In October, Melbourne is generally much colder than Saint Thomasin April. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Saint Thomas fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Saint Thomas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the spring, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Saint Thomasin April. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Thomas receives 272 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets less rain in October than Saint Thomasin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint Thomas receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Saint Thomas 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Thomas and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Saint Thomas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.