Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Melbourne or Vancouver?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
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 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $179Vancouver $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $179, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $120Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $240Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Vancouver $12
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.40
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.78
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yvr Airport to Whistler and Whistler to Yvr Airport transfers: $112
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver and Tofino: $248
- Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Nanaimo: $108
- Private Transfer from YVR Airport To Whistler: $511
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver, BC: Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Seattle, WA: $258
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Cruise Terminal Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $88
- Vancouver to Canada Place Cruise Port Departure Private Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $31Vancouver $31
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
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vancouver Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $78
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour: $100
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $28Vancouver $36
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 Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $220
- Private Vancouver Squamish EUC E-Scooter Bike Tour: $59
- Sunshine Coast Escape (Around Vancouver) Small Group Tour: $145
- Whistler Discovery and Waterfalls Small Group Tour: : $197
- $99 Vancouver 2 Hours City Tour Private: $102
- $99 Vancouver 2 Hours City Tour Private: $100
- 2 Days Leavenworth Christmastown Tour from Vancouver (Chn&Eng): $192
- 2-in-1 Vancouver city Tour: $234
- 3 Days Leavenworth & Portland X'mas Tour from Vancouver (Chn&Eng): $289
- 3-Day Vancouver City Tour Package With Whistler & Victoria: $2,413
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $456
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $583
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $17Vancouver $16
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour Led by a Local: $89
- Vancouver Craft Brewery Tour: $89
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melbourne and Vancouver, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific and Vancouver is in North 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Vancouver?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Melbourne is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Vancouver has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Melbourne or Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Vancouver. Most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In January, Melbourne is generally a little warmer than Vancouverin July. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vancouver this time of the year. In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Vancouver during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Vancouverin July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Vancouver. The autumn months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Melbourne is a little warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in October.
In the autumn, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Vancouverin October. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Vancouverin October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Vancouver. In the winter, Melbourne is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July average around 9°C (49°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F)in January.
Melbourne usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In July, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Vancouverin January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver and Melbourne during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In October, Melbourne is generally a little warmer than Vancouverin April. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the spring, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Vancouverin April. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Melbourne usually gets less rain in October than Vancouverin April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 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.