Which place is cheaper, Melaka or Jakarta?
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 Jakarta 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 Jakarta 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: Jakarta or Melaka?
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $73Melaka $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $73, 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 Jakarta and Melaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $32Melaka $9.51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $64Melaka $19
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Melaka
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta 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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $20Melaka $2.09
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$1.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Ujung Genteng Sukabumi: $245
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Ujung Genteng Sukabumi: $230
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regenc to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukarasa Kuningan Regency: $196
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $184
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency: $184
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Garut Regency: $184
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukarasa Kuningan Regency: $184
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukaresmi Bandung: $175
- Private Airport Transfer Jakarta VIP Sedan : $153
- Private Airport Transfer Jakarta VIP Luxury Van: $141
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukarasa Bandung: $128
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.75
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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 Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $281
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $251
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City: $239
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $212
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
- Private Transfer : National Park Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $120
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $99
- ~Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $81
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $80
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $80
- Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Melaka?
Prices for flights to both Melaka and Jakarta 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 dayJakarta $28Melaka $20
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.62
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Dinner$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $55
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
- Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120
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)$7.13
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.09
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.43
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.19
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jakarta $12Melaka $4.03
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- 1 Day Jakarta Historical Tour : $75
- 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $177
- 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55
- 7 Hours Indonesia Cultural & Heritage Park Tour: $110
- Afternoon city tour Jakarta: $82
- Bandung City Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Start From Jakarta): $154
- Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
- Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park Tourism ( TMII ): $135
- Bogor City Full-Day Private Tour from Jakarta with Pick Up: $160
- Bogor City Tour Nature waterfall with Local Food ( Start From Jakarta ): $130
- Bogor City Tour With a guide and lunch: $136
- City Tour Jakarta: $75
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$0.71
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.75
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.38
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.66
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Low Cost Kite$0.71
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.51
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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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $4.06Melaka $8.25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Melaka, we can see that Jakarta 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 Jakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jakarta 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is Melaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Melaka?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.