Should you visit Melaka or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Guangzhou, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Melaka or Guangzhou?
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.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Melaka?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $33, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $104. 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 Melaka and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Guangzhou? 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:
Melaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
-
Taxi
$4.75
-
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
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]:
$80
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]:
$80
-
Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]:
$212
-
Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer:
$99
-
Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$52
-
Private Transfer : National Park Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands:
$165
-
Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands:
$165
-
Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port:
$66
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city:
$251
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city :
$120
-
Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City:
$239
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
-
Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer:
$255
-
Guangzhou Layover Visa-Free Private Tour with Airport Transfer:
$200
-
Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port:
$194
-
Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port:
$176
-
Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax:
$170
-
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer:
$135
-
Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou:
$129
-
Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax:
$120
-
Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel:
$99
-
Guangzhou Night Pearl River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer:
$96
-
Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver:
$90
-
Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel:
$90
Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Melaka 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 day
Melaka $20
Guangzhou $34
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
-
Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings:
$79
-
Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop:
$96
-
Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option:
$146
-
Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise:
$160
-
Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner:
$176
-
Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou:
$179
-
Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market:
$180
-
Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour:
$183
-
Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou:
$199
-
Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner:
$199
-
Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner:
$204
-
Private Cooking Canton Cuisine Cooking Class in Guangzhou :
$266
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Maritime Museum Entrance
$0.71
-
Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
$4.75
-
Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
$11
-
Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
$2.38
-
Melaka Zoo Entrance
$1.66
-
Low Cost Kite
$0.71
-
Malacca Duck Tour
$9.51
-
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.
-
Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket:
$7.15
-
Malaysia Melaka - Breakout Escape Game E-Ticket:
$13
-
Malaysia: Melaka A'famosa Water Park & Safari Wonderland Ticket:
$15
-
Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre:
$15
-
A'Famosa Safari and Water Park in Melaka Ticket (Only Malaysian):
$28
-
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 To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour:
$49
-
Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour:
$49
-
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 To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour:
$61
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service:
$75
-
Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou:
$266
-
1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport:
$260
-
1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour:
$185
-
3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou:
$91
-
4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour:
$180
-
4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options:
$153
-
4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option:
$100
-
4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou:
$91
-
5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience :
$118
-
5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting:
$72
-
6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour:
$1,598
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou 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 Melaka Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melaka or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Guangzhou, 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.
Related Articles for Melaka
Related Articles for Guangzhou