A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Melaka vs. Nadi (Port Denarau) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Melaka or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Melaka or Nadi (Port Denarau), 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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.

Nadi (Port Denarau)

Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Melaka?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Melaka Prices
    Malaysia Prices
    Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
    Fiji Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Melaka $33
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $198

The average daily cost (per person) in Melaka is $33, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Melaka $9.51
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Melaka $19
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Melaka and Nadi (Port Denarau)

Looking for a hotel in Melaka or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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.

Hotels in Melaka


Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau)


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 and Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Melaka $2.09
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81
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:

  • Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
  • Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port: $66
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $80
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $80
  • ~Chauffeur: Malacca to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $81
  • Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $99
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Kuala Lumpur city : $120
  • Private Transfer : National Park Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
  • Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $165
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $212
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City: $239
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Johor Bahru city: $251

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):

  • Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $168
  • Private Transfer: Nadi Airport to Pacific Harbour - 1 to 4 Seat Vehicle: $130
  • Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
  • Fiji Cultural Full Day Island Cruise With Lunch & Transfers : $112
  • Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
  • CFC Approved Roundtrip Car Transfer - Nadi Airport to Outrigger & Bedarra Inn: $79
  • Private Transfer-Nadi Airport to Nanuku /Pearl/Uprising Resort : $78
  • CFC APPROVED Private Roundtrip Transfer -Nadi Airport to All Maui Bay Properties: $71
  • Private Roundtrip Transfer - Nadi Airport to Fiji Marriott Momi Bay: $68
  • Private Premium Departure Transfer : Hotel to Nadi Airport: $67
  • Private Transfer: Intercontinental Resort and Spa to Nadi Airport: $66
  • Private Roundtrip Transfer - Nadi Airport to Intercontinental & Yatule Resort: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Melaka or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $69
Typical Food Prices in Melaka

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:


  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $7.13
  • Dinner at the Market (for Two)
    $3.09
  • Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)
    $1.43
  • Taiwanese Noodle Soup
    $1.19
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Melaka $4.03
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $32
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 Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:

  • "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $118
  • 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $164
  • Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
  • Best Sightseeing Tour : $132
  • Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
  • CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $105
  • Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
  • Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
  • Cultural Night Tour: $80
  • Discover Coral Coast & Natadola Beach Tour: $114
  • Fiji Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Dunes hiking Combo Tour!: $135
  • Fiji Island Cultural Experience with Lunch : $184

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Melaka $8.25
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Melaka and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melaka is in Asia and Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Melaka or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Melaka has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Melaka and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.