Comparison · Adelaide vs Melbourne · Australia
Adelaide vs Melbourne
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Adelaide skyline, December 2022.jpg : Ardash Muradian from Australia derivative work:, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Adelaide for Wine regions and Adelaide Fringe; choose Melbourne for Laneway cafés and Street art. Adelaide is generally less expensive, and the two are about 654 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 654 km
- Less expensive
- Adelaide
- Best time for Adelaide
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Melbourne
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Adelaide | Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Known for | Wine regions, Adelaide Fringe and Central Market | Laneway cafés, Street art and Trams |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$280 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | January, 29°C (84°F) | January, 26°C (79°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 15°C (59°F) | June, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 12 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | Glenelg Beach | St Kilda Beach |
| Airports | ADL | MEL, AVV |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Adelaide for…
Wine regions and Adelaide Fringe. Adelaide was laid out in 1837 as a grid of wide streets and squares wrapped in a continuous belt of parkland, and that plan still makes the centre easy to walk. North Terrace lines up the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, the State…
Choose Melbourne for…
Laneway cafés and Street art. Melbourne is a grid-planned city on the Yarra River, known less for single landmarks than for laneway cafés, galleries, sport and food. The CBD's Hoddle Grid is covered by a free tram zone, and inner suburbs such as Fitzroy, Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda…
Top sights compared
| # | Adelaide | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide Central Market | Federation Square and Flinders Street Station |
| 2 | Art Gallery of South Australia | Hosier Lane and the CBD laneways |
| 3 | South Australian Museum | National Gallery of Victoria |
| 4 | State Library of South Australia | Queen Victoria Market |
| 5 | Adelaide Botanic Garden | Royal Botanic Gardens |
Food compared
| Adelaide | Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Pie floater | Specialty coffee and the 'magic' |
| Frog cake | Melbourne brunch |
| Farmers Union Iced Coffee | Dim sim |
| King George whiting | Souvlaki |
Which is cheaper?
Adelaide is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$280 per person there, against $180–$320 in Melbourne (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Adelaide on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Adelaide and Melbourne are about 654 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Adelaide and 5 in Melbourne.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Adelaide or Melbourne cheaper?
Adelaide is usually less expensive: about $150–$280 a day mid-range against $180–$320 (estimates).
+Is Adelaide or Melbourne better for a first trip?
Pick Adelaide for Wine regions and Adelaide Fringe, or Melbourne for Laneway cafés and Street art.
+How far is Adelaide from Melbourne?
About 654 km in a straight line.