Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Melaka can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Melaka?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $68Melaka $35
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $68, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $35. 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 Nairobi and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Melaka $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Melaka $20
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Melaka $2.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli: $200
- Private Road Transfer from Nairobi to Amboseli national park: $197
- Private Transfer in Nairobi: $180
- Airport transfers: $180
- Private Arrival Transfer in Nairobi: $115
- Private Shuttle Van Transfer: $100
- Nairobi Airports Private Transfers: $100
- Private Transfers from Nairobi Airport to Hotels: $100
- Nairobi National Park Tour with Game Drive and Transfer: $95
- Airport Transfer (one Way): $80
- Private Transfer to Naivasha from Nairobi: $80
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi City: $67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$5.04
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Bus Ride$0.38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $66
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $172
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Taman Negara Transfer [Car]: $240
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $213
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $186
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $282
- °Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Van Transfer: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Melaka $21
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Private Interactive Cooking Class and Market Tour in Kinoo: $65
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Dinner/Lunch Eating Experience Carnivore Restaurant & Transport: $75
- Safari Park dinner with live band music and cat dance show.: $90
- Nairobi Nightlife and Safari Park Hotel Dinner Experience: $90
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $98
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
- Traditional Kikuyu Cooking Class In My Village: $100
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $120
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.56
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.27
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.51
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.26
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$8.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $76
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Melaka $4.27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Bike Tour to Hell’s Gate And Lake Naivasha: $139
- 1 Day Hiking Adventure At Mt Longonot From Nairobi(minimum 2 Pax): $225
- 1 Day Pure Adrenaline Adventure with Kenyan BBQ Lunch Experience: $200
- 2 Days 1 Night Amboseli National Park With Masai Village Tour: $280
- 2 Days Tour :Mt.Longonot Hiking TOUR &Hells Gate Bicycle Riding: $200
- 2-Hour Private Kibera Slum Guided Tour: $90
- 3 Days 2 Nights Maasai Mara Group Tour with 4x4 Jeep: $210
- 3 Days 2 Nights Masai Mara Safari Witness the Jungle Experience: $270
- 3 Days 8th Wonder Of The World with Maasai Mara Great Tour: $242
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Group Safari on 4x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $295
- 3 Days Maasai Mara Small Group Safari in a 4 x4 Land Cruiser Jeep: $220
- 3 Days Masai Mara Budget Camping Safari on 4X4 Land Cruiser: $285
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Maritime Museum Entrance$0.76
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$5.04
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.52
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.76
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Low Cost Kite$0.76
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Malacca Duck Tour$10
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.52
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: $84
- *13 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Full Day & Night Car Tour w' Tour Guide: $259
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
- 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: $183
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $18
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Melaka $8.74
Sample the Local Flavors in Nairobi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nairobi:
- Food and Wine Tasting Experience at Five Senses Restaurant: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Melaka, we can see that Nairobi is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Melaka is in Asia, 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 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 Nairobi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nairobi 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 Nairobi Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Melaka?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.
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.