Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Melbourne or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Australia, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $176Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $176, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $118Whitsundays $69
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $236Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne or Whitsundays? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $19Whitsundays $55
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:
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $939
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $369
- Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne: $317
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Southbank: $211
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $204
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $199
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $188
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $166
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Van: $163
- Melbourne Private Transfer to Melbourne Airport MEL in Luxury Van: $163
- Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van: $163
- Airport Transfers: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Melbourne or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 dayMelbourne $30Whitsundays $30
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 Early Access Food Tour: $51
- Multicultural Food Tour in Melbourne Markets: $51
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $74
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $78
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $80
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $97
- Secret Food Tours Melbourne: $106
- Secret Food Tour: $108
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $123
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $128
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $131
- Thai Cooking Class: $131
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $97
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Melbourne $27Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Experience Yarra Valley: A Tailored private Wine Journey: $216
- 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
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $793
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $66
- 3 Hour Rainforest Walking Tour in Badger Creek: $40
- 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Small-Group Tour: $1,474
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour with a Local Melbourne Guide : $170
- 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
- 3/4 Day Sports Lovers Bus Tour of Melbourne with Tour Options: $179
- AFL Experience: Melbourne CBD Walking Tour & AFL Entry: $80
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,906
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $194
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $149
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMelbourne $17Whitsundays $12
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 Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $92
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $103
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $126
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $139
- Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $173
- Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $173
- Mornington Peninsula Luxury Lunch, Wine Tasting & Pt Leo Art Walk: $173
- Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $179
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melbourne and Whitsundays, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Whitsundays much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Whitsundays would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Melbourne Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Melbourne or Whitsundays?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Melbourne or Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Whitsundays. The summer months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Melbourne is generally cooler than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 20°C (68°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays during summer. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Whitsundays. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Whitsundays. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
Melbourne is cooler than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 15°C (60°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the autumn, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Whitsundays. Melbourne gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Melbourne usually gets less rain in April than Whitsundays. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures AprilMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In the winter, Melbourne is much colder than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Melbourne in July average around 9°C (49°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Melbourne usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during winter. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In July, Melbourne usually receives more rain than Whitsundays. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JulyMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In October, Melbourne is generally much colder than Whitsundays. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 14°C (57°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the spring, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Whitsundays. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets more rain in October than Whitsundays. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures OctoberMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.