Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Tianjin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tianjin or Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin 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: Tianjin or Melbourne?
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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 The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $76Melbourne $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $76, 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 Tianjin and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $34Melbourne $118
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $68Melbourne $236
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin 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: Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tianjin $36Melbourne $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Tianjin central to Tianjin Binhai Airport (TSN): $116
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $50
- Tianjin Port Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $192
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer from City Hotels: $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $66
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
- Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $18
- Tianjin Airport (TSN) to Tianjin RoundTrip Private Transfer: $50
- Private Transfer: Tianjin Xingang International Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotel: $88
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$10
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Tram Ride$2.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $947
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $372
- Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne: $319
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Southbank: $212
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $205
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $198
- Melbourne Private Transfer to Melbourne Airport MEL in Luxury Car: $188
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $188
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $176
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $165
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Van: $163
- Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Tianjin 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 dayTianjin $20Melbourne $30
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.60
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $10Melbourne $27
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
- From Tianjin Xingang Port: Private 2-Day Beijing Tour: $550
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Mutianyu Great Wall Trip with English Speaking Driver from Tianjin Cruise Port: $261
- One Day Huangyaguan Great Wall And Qing Tomb Tour Of Beijing: $260
- Private Beijing Custom Day Tour from Tianjin City by Bullet Train: $278
- Private Beijing Shopping Tour with Bullet Train Experience from Tianjin: $269
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $125
- 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road Eco Tour with lunch from Melbourne: $109
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $800
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $66
- 2024 Mt Buller, Melbourne Snow and Sightseeing Day Tour: $92
- 3 Hour Rainforest Walking Tour in Badger Creek: $40
- 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Small-Group Tour: $1,486
- 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
- 3/4 Day Sports Lovers Bus Tour of Melbourne with Tour Options: $178
- 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $40
- African Cat Experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo - excl. entry: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Melbourne $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$5.03
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 Tianjin and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tianjin 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 Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Tianjin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tianjin Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Melbourne?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Melbourne. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin 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 Tianjin or Melbourne?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Melbourne is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Tianjin has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Tianjin or Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tianjin and Melbourne. Furthermore, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In the summer, Tianjin is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tianjin in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tianjin usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during summer. Tianjin gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun in the summer.
Tianjin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Tianjin usually receives more rain than Melbournein January. Tianjin gets 185 mm (7.3 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 July and JanuaryTianjin 27°C (80°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tianjin as well as Melbourne. Additionally, many travelers come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Tianjin is generally around the same temperature as Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Tianjin average around 15°C (58°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. In the autumn, Tianjin often gets more sunshine than Melbournein April. Tianjin gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun.
Tianjin usually gets less rain in October than Melbournein April. Tianjin gets 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilTianjin 15°C (58°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne and Tianjin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Melbourne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Tianjin. Tianjin is much colder than Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Tianjin averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. Tianjin usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during winter. Tianjin gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tianjin usually receives less rain than Melbournein July. Tianjin gets 3 mm (0.1 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 January and JulyTianjin -3°C (27°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Tianjin or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne and Tianjin during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In the spring, Tianjin is around the same temperature as Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tianjin in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tianjin. In the spring, Tianjin often gets more sunshine than Melbournein October. Tianjin gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun.
Tianjin usually gets less rain in April than Melbournein October. Tianjin gets 25 mm (1 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 April and OctoberTianjin 14°C (58°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Tianjin
| Tianjin | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.