Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Sandakan or Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan 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: Sandakan or Melbourne?
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $58Melbourne $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $176. 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 Sandakan and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Melbourne $118
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Melbourne $236
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices and Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $33Melbourne $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
-
Airport Bus$10
-
Tram Ride$2.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport: Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $16
- Melbourne Airport: One-Way Transfer to Melbourne: $29
- GoBlu-EV: 100% Electric Cabs for Airport & City Transfer in MEL: $33
- Private Transfer from Melbourne hotels to Melbourne Cruise Port: $38
- Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $52
- Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $52
- Melbourne Airport Luxury Car Transfer: $73
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $79
- From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne: $79
- Nighttime Private City Tour with Transfer & Stops: $80
- Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Melbourne Airport Private Transfer: $85
- Luxury Airport Transfers & Best Limo Service in Melbourne: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $19Melbourne $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Coffee$2.60
-
Pizza$4.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $53
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $78
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Pizza Making Party: $89
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $97
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $122
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $129
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $130
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Melbourne $27
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.28
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
- Marvellous A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Melbourne Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- MoPA Children's Museum Admission Ticket: $9.15
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.80
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.80
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $9.80
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.80
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Melbourne $17
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$5.03
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $25
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $86
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $102
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $116
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $127
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $139
- Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
- Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
- Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $178
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sandakan is in Asia and Melbourne is in Pacific, 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 Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Melbourne, 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.
When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sandakan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sandakan or Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne and Sandakan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Melbourne in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Sandakan gets 221 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 Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Melbourne averages at about 15°C (60°F)in April.
Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Melbourne. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Melbourne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Melbournein July. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Melbournein July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
Sandakan is much warmer than Melbourne in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Melbourne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
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.