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

Should you visit Moscow or Melbourne?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Moscow and Melbourne. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Moscow or Melbourne?

Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.

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.

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, Melbourne or Moscow?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Moscow is $63, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $179. 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 Moscow and Melbourne in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Moscow $40
    Melbourne $120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Moscow $80
    Melbourne $240
Compare Hotels in Moscow and Melbourne

Looking for a hotel in Moscow or Melbourne? 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 Moscow


Hotels in Melbourne


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.
    Moscow $6.18
    Melbourne $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Moscow

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


  • Two Metro Passes
    $1.47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow

Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Wonorejo to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $43
  • Private Transfer from Tengkerang Barat to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $40
  • Private Transfer from Tanjung Rhu to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $43
  • Private Transfer from Tanjung Alam to Padang Airport (PDG): $135
  • Private Transfer from Tangkerang Utara to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $43
  • Private Transfer from Tampan to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $43
  • Private Transfer from Simpang Tiga to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $43
  • Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Tengkerang Tengah: $40
  • Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Tanjung Rhu: $43
  • Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Tangkerang Labuai: $40
  • Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Sukajadi: $43
  • Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Sri Meranti: $68

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Airport Bus
    $11
  • Tram Ride
    $2.51

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
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $99
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne APT-HTL (MEL): $99
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne hotels to Melbourne Cruise Port: $38
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $52
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $52
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $86
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $79
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $86
  • Private Airport Transfer in Melbourne: $99
  • Mt Buller 1 Day Snow Tour (Direct Transfer To Mt Buller Village From Melbourne): $89
  • Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $198

Is it cheaper to fly into Moscow or Melbourne?

Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Moscow 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
    Moscow $14
    Melbourne $31
Typical Food Prices in Moscow

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $6.00
  • Lunch in the Center Market
    $3.27
  • Breakfast for 2
    $11

Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.64
  • 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: $53
  • Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
  • Pizza Making Party: $89
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
  • Secret Food Tour: $109
  • Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
  • Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $122
  • Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $130
  • Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Moscow $16
    Melbourne $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Moscow

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Theater Tickets
    $13
  • Kremlin Entry (2)
    $11

Tours and Activities in Moscow

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

  • 2 Days Private Tour to See Bull Race and Raflesia Arnoldi Flower: $250

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
  • 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $125
  • 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
  • 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
  • 3/4 Day Sports Lovers Bus Tour of Melbourne with Tour Options: $178
  • 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Moscow $7.94
    Melbourne $17

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
    $5.12

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 Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
  • Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $86
  • 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 : $139
  • Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
  • Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
  • Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $178


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

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


Which is Bigger, Moscow or Melbourne?

Moscow has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Melbourne. When comparing the sizes of Moscow and Melbourne, 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 Moscow or Melbourne?

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 Moscow has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Moscow or Melbourne in the Summer?

Both Melbourne and Moscow are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Moscow is around the same temperature as Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Moscow in July average around 19°C (67°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.

In July, Moscow usually receives more rain than Melbournein January. Moscow gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Moscow 19°C (67°F) 
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Moscow or Melbourne in the Autumn?

Both Melbourne and Moscow during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Melbourne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Moscow is generally much colder than Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Moscow average around 6°C (43°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

Moscow usually gets more rain in October than Melbournein April. Moscow gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Moscow 6°C (43°F) 
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F)

Should I visit Moscow or Melbourne in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Moscow and Melbourne. Furthermore, most visitors come to Melbourne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Moscow can get quite cold in the winter. Moscow is much colder than Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Moscow averages around -8°C (17°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.

In January, Moscow usually receives around the same amount of rain as Melbournein July. Moscow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Moscow -8°C (17°F) 
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Moscow or Melbourne in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Moscow as well as Melbourne. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Moscow is much colder than Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Moscow in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.

Moscow usually gets less rain in April than Melbournein October. Moscow gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Moscow 7°C (45°F) 
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Melbourne and Moscow

Moscow Melbourne
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -8°C (17°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Mar -1°C (30°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 7°C (45°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 76 mm (3 in) 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in)
Jul 19°C (67°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Aug 18°C (64°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 6°C (43°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Nov -0°C (32°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Dec -5°C (23°F) 52 mm (2 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)