A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Newcastle vs. Melbourne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Newcastle or Melbourne?

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

Should I visit Newcastle or Melbourne? 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: Newcastle or Melbourne?

Newcastle

Newcastle is 150 kilometers north of Sydney in New South Wales. It is also the second largest city in the state, and serves as a central point to explore the area's beaches, wineries, and beautiful natural landscape. North of the city is Stockton beach, which has many miles of isolated, beautiful beaches, stretching all the way up to Nelson Bay. The wineries are inland to the west and have some of Australia's finest wine which you can taste. If you want to see rainforests, you can head northwest to Barrington Tops National Park, which has great rainforests and freshwater streams. You may even get to see a platypus. The city also has the country's oldest sea port. In the past the city's economy was centered around the steel industry, but today the University of Newcastle is one of the area's most important employers.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Newcastle?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Newcastle is $92, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $181. 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 Newcastle and Melbourne in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Newcastle $45
    Melbourne $122
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Newcastle $90
    Melbourne $244
Compare Hotels in Newcastle and Melbourne

Looking for a hotel in Newcastle 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 Newcastle


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: Newcastle Hotel Prices and Melbourne Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Newcastle $8.50
    Melbourne $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Newcastle

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Newcastle:

  • Private Transfer from Newcastle to Belfast City Airport (BHD): $128
  • Private Transfer from Newcastle to Belfast Airport (BFS): $148
  • Newcastle Airport (NCL) Departure Private Transfer from Hotels: $47

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:

  • Melbourne Airport Departure Transfer from Melbourne CBD Hotels: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer: Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB) to Melbourne: $32
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Melbourne to Melbourne Essendon Airport (MEB): $32
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Melbourne to Tullamarine Airport (MEL): $39
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $45
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Melbourne Downtown City to Airport: $53
  • Transfer in private Minivan from Melbourne City Downtown to Airport: $65
  • Departure Private Transfer Melbourne City to Melbourne Airport MEL by Sedan Car: $73
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $78
  • Melbourne Airport To CBD Transfers Sedan (Audi A8, BMW 7 & Mercedes S-Class): $78
  • Melbourne AIRPORT TRANSFER: $79
  • Private Transfer: Melbourne to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Newcastle or Melbourne?

Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Newcastle 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
    Newcastle $36
    Melbourne $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Newcastle

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Newcastle.

  • Looking for a fun experience, hit the sweet spot with beer and pizza at Slice!: $73

Typical Food prices in Melbourne

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


  • Coffee
    $2.64
  • Pizza
    $4.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The Eynesbury Homestead: Dinner and 1.5-Hour Ghost Tour: $54
  • Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $63
  • Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class: $72
  • Spice Factory 3-Hour Indian Cooking Class: $90
  • Private Australian Cooking Class in Melbourne using Native Produce: $125
  • Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Melbourne Private Food Tour: $131
  • Vegan Cooking Class: $146
  • Private Modern Australian Cooking Class with a Professional Chef in Melbourne: $166
  • Private Market Tour and Australian Cooking Class with a Local Chef in her Home: $203
  • [PRIVATE TOUR] Best Of Melbourne Food Tours: $462

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Newcastle $16
    Melbourne $28

Tours and Activities in Newcastle

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Newcastle are as follows:

  • From Hunter Valley Beer & Wine Small Group Tour: $136
  • Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle: $78
  • Hunter Coastal Adventure Tour by Boat from Newcastle: $78
  • Maitland's True Crime Tour: $25
  • Newcastle Dark Stories True Crime Tour: $27
  • Harbor and Coast 2.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise: $71
  • True Crime Guided Walking Tour: $25

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

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

  • Live like a Local: Explore some favourite spots on a playful audio walking tour: $5.40
  • Melbourne Audio Tour: A Self-Guided Walk Through the City: $6.99
  • Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $12
  • Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
  • Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Melbourne Sports Walking Tour: $14
  • Green Cabs Melbourne Tours: $16
  • Eureka Skydeck 88 Admission Ticket: $20
  • ArtVo Immersive Gallery Experience: $22
  • Tour guide services: $22
  • Melbourne Ghost Tour: $23
  • Gangsters & Candy Stores (night tour with laser projector): $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Newcastle $10
    Melbourne $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Newcastle

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Newcastle:

  • From Hunter Valley Brewery Tour with Lunch: $136

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 Bar Hunt: Melbourne Breakout Bar Crawl: $12
  • Melbourne CBD Pub Crawl: $16
  • Carlton Brewhouse Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $24
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour from Melbourne: $78
  • Hops and Barrels- Hop on Hop off Wine Tour Mornington Peninsula.: $83
  • Small-Group Guided Yarra Valley Winery Tour with Wine Tasting: $104
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Local Harvest Tastings from Melbourne: $115
  • Yarra Valley Local Produce and Wine Tasting Tour: $115
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $115
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tasting Tour Departing from Melbourne: $118
  • Mornington Peninsula Winery Tour Including Wine Tastings and 2-Course Lunch: $118
  • Yarra Valley Smaller Wineries Food and Wine Tour: $134

About these numbers

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


When is the best time to visit Newcastle or Melbourne?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Newcastle or Melbourne in the Summer?

Both Melbourne and Newcastle during the summer are popular places to visit.

In January, Newcastle is generally a little warmer than Melbourne. Temperatures in Newcastle average around 22°C (72°F), and Melbourne stays around 20°C (68°F).

In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Newcastle. In the summer, Newcastle often gets less sunshine than Melbourne. Newcastle gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Newcastle. Newcastle usually gets more rain in January than Melbourne. Newcastle gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Newcastle 22°C (72°F) 
    Melbourne 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Newcastle or Melbourne in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Newcastle and Melbourne.

Newcastle is a little warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The temperature in Newcastle is usually 19°C (67°F) in April, and Melbourne stays around 15°C (60°F).

Newcastle usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during autumn. Newcastle gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Newcastle gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Newcastle usually receives more rain than Melbourne. Newcastle gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Newcastle 19°C (67°F) 
    Melbourne 15°C (60°F)

Should I visit Newcastle or Melbourne in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Newcastle as well as Melbourne.

In the winter, Newcastle is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Newcastle in July are around 13°C (55°F), and Melbourne is about 9°C (49°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Newcastle this time of the year. In the winter, Newcastle often gets more sunshine than Melbourne. Newcastle gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.

Newcastle usually gets more rain in July than Melbourne. Newcastle gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Newcastle 13°C (55°F) 
    Melbourne 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Newcastle or Melbourne in the Spring?

Both Melbourne and Newcastle are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In October, Newcastle is generally a little warmer than Melbourne. Temperatures in Newcastle average around 18°C (64°F), and Melbourne stays around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite sunny in Melbourne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Newcastle. Newcastle usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Newcastle gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Newcastle usually receives more rain than Melbourne. Newcastle gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Newcastle 18°C (64°F) 
    Melbourne 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Melbourne and Newcastle

Newcastle Melbourne
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 22°C (72°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Mar 21°C (71°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 19°C (65°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 19°C (67°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 16°C (61°F) 102 mm (4 in) 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Jun 14°C (57°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 10°C (50°F) 37 mm (1.5 in)
Jul 13°C (55°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 9°C (49°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Aug 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 10°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Sep 16°C (60°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 12°C (53°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 18°C (64°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Nov 20°C (67°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 16°C (61°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)


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Newcastle vs. Melbourne Travel Comparison

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