Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Melaka?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Melaka can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Zanzibar or Melaka?
Zanzibar
Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.
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 Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Zanzibar Prices
Tanzania PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $62Melaka $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $62, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $34. 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 Zanzibar and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Melaka $9.79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Melaka $20
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar 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: Zanzibar Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Melaka $2.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Range Rover Sport: $300
- Private VIP Ferry Tickets to Daressalam with two way transfers: $259
- Zanzibar Must-see Sights with Lunch and Transfers: $249
- Luxury Zanzibar Airport Transfer in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado: $220
- Arrival Transfer Zanzibar Airport ZNZ to Zanzibar by Luxury Car: $211
- Zanzibar Golf Adventure in Paradise with Hotel Transfer: $148
- Safari Blue Zanzibar - Seafood Lunch, Sandbank & Hotel Transfer: $145
- Zanzibar Private Round Trip Airport Transfer: $121
- Zanzibar Tour in Secret Beach, Kuza Cave and Jozani with transfer: $120
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Makunduchi: $95
- Private Transfer from Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport to Kizimkazi: $95
- Private Transfer from Kizimkazi to Zanzibar (ZNZ) Airport: $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.90
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Bus Ride$0.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $214
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Singapore Car Transfer: $220
- Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $43
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $170
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Zanzibar 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 dayZanzibar $28Melaka $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzi Nights Stone Town Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $45
- Zanzibar Spice Farm Tour and Cooking Class With Lunch: $52
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class and Spice Farm: $59
- Spice Farm Zanzibar Cooking Class Authentic Cultural Experience: $65
- Zanzibar Spice Tour & Cooking Class: $69
- Zanzibar Cooking Lesson: $70
- Cooking Class Tour: $75
- Zanzibar Cultural Cuisines Cooking Class & Spice Farm Tour: $75
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $77
- Zanzibar Spice and Night Market Cooking and Street Food Tour: $80
- A private half day spice farm with a cooking lesson: $90
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.34
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.18
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.47
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.22
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melaka Authentic Cooking Class - 60 Mins: $22
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $50
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Melaka $4.15
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days Tour In Zanzibar: $180
- 2 days tour from Jozani forest to Stone town zanzibar: $270
- 3 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island: $26
- 5 HOURS Stone Town Tour Including Pick-up and Drop off: $70
- 8 Days Zanzibar Discovery Adventure: $220
- A Full Day Safari Blue Tour And Blue Lagoon: $140
- A Half Day Private Dolphins And Snorkeling Tour To Mnemba Island: $95
- A Half Day Private Nungwi Village Tour (With Turtles Aquarium): $78
- A Half Day Private Prison Island Tour: $106
- A Half Day Private Stone Town Tour: $85
- A Half Day Private Tour To Jozani Forest: $87
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Maritime Museum Entrance$0.73
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.90
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.45
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.71
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Low Cost Kite$0.73
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.79
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.45
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $5.02
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.21
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $18
- From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
- Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $50
- Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.76Melaka $8.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Melaka, we can see that Zanzibar is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zanzibar is in Africa and Melaka is in Asia, 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 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 Zanzibar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zanzibar 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 Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Melaka?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Melaka, 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.
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.