Should you visit Mumbai or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mumbai or Melaka, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mumbai or Melaka?
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
Melaka
Melaka (or Malacca) is a large city on the western coast of Malaysia about half way between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This historical city grew up as a result of trading in the region due to its position on the namesake Straights of Malacca, a natural waterway formed from the peninsula of Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Mumbai?
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 Mumbai is $75, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $34. 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 Mumbai and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Mumbai or Melaka? 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:
Mumbai Hotel Prices and
Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Luxury Mumbai Package with Hotel,Private Airport Transfers and Sightseeing Tour:
$270
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel Including VIP Assistance:
$214
-
Mumbai Private Bollywood Studio Tour with Transfer:
$118
-
Arrival Transfer: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai by Luxury Van:
$96
-
Transfer to & fro Airports,Cruise Terminal,Hotels or any whichway, one way/time:
$64
-
Airport Transfer: Mumbai Airport BOM to Mumbai by Business Car:
$62
-
Departure Private Transfers: Mumbai City to Mumbai Airport BOM in Business Car:
$62
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels:
$59
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai hotels to Mumbai Cruise Port:
$59
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Mumbai:
$59
-
Private Transfer from Mumbai Cruise Port to Mumbai Hotels:
$59
-
Private Arrival Departure Airport Transfers Mumbai:
$54
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
-
Taxi
$4.95
-
Bus Ride
$0.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city:
$248
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City:
$236
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer:
$221
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]:
$188
-
Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands:
$172
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Ipoh Transfer [Van]:
$100
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Van]:
$77
-
Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer:
$75
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL):
$66
-
°Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Van Transfer:
$63
-
Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$52
Is it cheaper to fly into Mumbai or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Mumbai 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
Mumbai $38
Melaka $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Mumbai Food Tour — 178 Years of Bombay on a Plate:
$14
-
Virtual Authentic Indian Tea and Paratha Cooking Class:
$14
-
Private Street Food Tour with Mumbai Sightseeing Tour including AC vehicles:
$19
-
Small Group Authentic Mumbai Virtual Cooking Class with Dessert:
$20
-
Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai:
$20
-
Mumbai Food Tour:
$20
-
Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home:
$29
-
Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home:
$29
-
Mumbai's Curry Cooking Class: Veg, Non-Veg:
$32
-
Experience Mumbai Street Food Tour:
$36
-
Mumbai Street Food Tour:
$39
-
Bombay Express Mumbai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$45
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour:
$51
-
Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$55
-
Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$55
-
Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka:
$95
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
-
" Dash Of Mumbai " Sightseeing & Experiences-by Goi Licensed Guide Ragini Doshi:
$285
-
"Mumbai - Dharavi Slum Tour":
$8.59
-
"Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour":
$43
-
2-Hour Guided Tour of Dharavi:
$21
-
3 Days Chatrapati Shambaji Nagar Tour from Mumbai in Pvt Vehicle:
$290
-
3 Days Complete Mumbai Tour Inclusive of Bollywood Studio Experience:
$277
-
3 Hours Early Morning in South Mumbai Heritage Bicycle Tour:
$43
-
3-Day Mumbai to Nashik, Ajanta and Ellora Tour with Car and Guide:
$149
-
7 Hour Mumbai City Sightseeing Tour By Navv Om Namaha Shivaya:
$107
-
All in one Combo of City ,Slum,Dhobighat & Dabbawala tour:
$77
-
All inclusive Elephanta Caves Guided Tour:
$50
-
All-Inclusive Private Full-Day Mumbai Sights & Local Experiences:
$163
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Maritime Museum Entrance
$0.74
-
Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
$4.95
-
Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
$11
-
Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
$2.48
-
Melaka Zoo Entrance
$1.73
-
Low Cost Kite
$0.74
-
Malacca Duck Tour
$9.90
-
Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)
$2.48
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
-
*13 Hrs Best of Melaka Full Day Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide:
$85
-
*13 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Full Day & Night Car Tour w' Tour Guide:
$261
-
Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre:
$15
-
From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience:
$40
-
Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$61
-
Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$61
-
Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour:
$49
-
Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour:
$49
-
Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive):
$328
-
Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch:
$185
-
Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$61
-
Malacca To Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$48
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
-
Bombay Party (Bar Crawl):
$25
-
Sula Vineyards Wine Tasting Day Trip from Mumbai by Train or Car:
$131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mumbai and Melaka, we can see that Mumbai is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Melaka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Melaka 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai than you might in Melaka.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mumbai Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mumbai or Melaka?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Mumbai and Melaka, 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.
Related Articles for Mumbai
Related Articles for Melaka