Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Pai or Melaka?
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 Pai and Melaka. 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: Pai or Melaka?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
-
Pai Prices
Thailand PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $91Melaka $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $91, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $33. 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 Pai and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $16Melaka $9.51
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $32Melaka $19
Compare Hotels in Pai and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Pai 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $42Melaka $2.09
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
-
Taxi$4.75
-
Bus Ride$0.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ~Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $81
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City: $239
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $120
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $251
- Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port: $66
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
- Private Transfer : National Park Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $99
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $212
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $80
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Pai 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 dayPai $42Melaka $20
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
-
Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.13
-
Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.09
-
Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.43
-
Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.19
-
Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Peranakan and Malay Cooking Class in Malacca: $90
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $46Melaka $4.03
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Maritime Museum Entrance$0.71
-
Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.75
-
Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
-
Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.38
-
Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.66
-
Low Cost Kite$0.71
-
Malacca Duck Tour$9.51
-
Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.38
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
- A'Famosa Safari and Water Park in Melaka Ticket (Only Malaysian): $28
- 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 Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- 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 Professional Tour Guide & Lunch: $228
- Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch: $228
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $15Melaka $8.25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Melaka, we can see that Pai 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai 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 Pai Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
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.