Which city is cheaper, Melbourne or Rockhampton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Australia Rockhampton vs. Melbourne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Rockhampton or Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Rockhampton 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: Rockhampton or Melbourne?
Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in Queensland, Australia with a population of around 75,000. It dates back to 1855 and historically the economy was driven by gold, mining, and agriculture. Today it feels more bustling than you would expect in an "outback town." There's traffic, suburban sprawl, and continuing growth and development. The city sits on the Fitzroy River about 45 kilometers from the river's mouth.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRockhampton $174Melbourne $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Rockhampton is $174, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $182. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Rockhampton and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRockhampton $103Melbourne $123
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRockhampton $206Melbourne $246
Compare Hotels in Rockhampton and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Rockhampton 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.
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: Rockhampton Hotel Prices and Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rockhampton $20Melbourne $20
Typical Local Transportation prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private vehicle from Melbourne Downtown City to Airport: $53
- Transfer in private Minivan from Melbourne City Downtown to Airport: $65
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Moorabbin Airport (MBW): $622
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $80
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Essendon Fields Airport (MEB): $106
- Private Transfer: Melbourne to Avalon International Airport (AVV): $212
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Port Canaveral: $246
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $333
- Private Transfer from Melbourne to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $319
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $45
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $78
- Private Airport Transfer: from Melbourne to Tullamarine Airport (MEL): $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Rockhampton or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Rockhampton 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 dayRockhampton $51Melbourne $31
Typical Food prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.66
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Pizza$4.65
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rockhampton $41Melbourne $28
Tours and Activities in Rockhampton
For Rockhampton, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Rockhampton Highlights Private Tour with Pickup: $178
- Tropical Beach Adventure - Private 4X4 Day Tour with Pickup: $178
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- '56 Chevrolet 3-Hour Bespoke Melbourne Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $379
- '56 Chevrolet 6-Hour Bespoke Melbourne Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $683
- '56 Chevrolet 6-Hour Dandenong Ranges Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $683
- '56 Chevrolet 6-Hour Yarra Valley Indulgence Classic Car Private Tour (4 person): $683
- 12 Apostles Eco-Friendly Great Ocean Road Iconic Adventure from Melbourne: $119
- 12 Apostles and Shipwreck Coast Express Private Tour: $375
- 2 Day Exclusively Private Tour Of Phillip Island & The Great Ocean Road: $1,276
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Tour and Platypus paddle: $351
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Tour from Melbourne: $210
- 2-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Tour Roundtrip from Melbourne: $257
- 2-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Tour from Melbourne: $217
- 2-Day Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Tour with Penguin Parade: $348
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRockhampton $13Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.15
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
When comparing the travel costs between Rockhampton and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
When is the best time to visit Rockhampton or Melbourne?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Rockhampton or Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne and Rockhampton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
In January, Rockhampton is generally a little warmer than Melbourne. Temperatures in Rockhampton average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne stays around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite rainy in Rockhampton. In January, Rockhampton usually receives more rain than Melbourne. Rockhampton gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRockhampton 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Rockhampton or Melbourne in the Autumn?
Both Melbourne and Rockhampton during the autumn are popular places to visit.
Rockhampton is much warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The temperature in Rockhampton is usually 23°C (74°F) in April, and Melbourne stays around 15°C (60°F).
Rockhampton usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Melbourne. Rockhampton gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRockhampton 23°C (74°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Rockhampton or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rockhampton and Melbourne.
In the winter, Rockhampton is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rockhampton in July are around 16°C (61°F), and Melbourne is about 9°C (49°F).
In July, Rockhampton usually receives less rain than Melbourne. Rockhampton gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRockhampton 16°C (61°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Rockhampton or Melbourne in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Rockhampton as well as Melbourne.
In October, Rockhampton is generally much warmer than Melbourne. Temperatures in Rockhampton average around 23°C (74°F), and Melbourne stays around 14°C (57°F).
Rockhampton usually gets less rain in October than Melbourne. Rockhampton gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRockhampton 23°C (74°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Rockhampton
| Rockhampton | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (74°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (78°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
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