Compare: Sydney→Perth (3,291 km) vs Sydney→Melbourne (713 km). Sydney → Melbourne wins by 2,578 km (78%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
3,291 km
2,045 miles · Flight: ~4h 37min · Drive: ~53h 29min
713 km
443 miles · Flight: ~1h 23min · Drive: ~11h 35min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 2,578 km (78%) · Flight time difference: ~3h 14min
Verdict
Sydney → Melbourne is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 2,578 km (78%) shorter, saves about 3h 14min of flight time, and cuts roughly 657 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Sydney → Perth only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Sydney → Melbourne is the shorter route at 713 km, which is 2,578 km (78%) shorter than Sydney → Perth. You would save approximately 3h 14min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Sydney → Perth | Sydney → Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 3,291 | 713 |
| Distance (miles) | 2,045 | 443 |
| Flight time | ~4h 37min | ~1h 23min |
| Driving time | ~53h 29min | ~11h 35min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~4,278 km | ~927 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 264° (W) | 230° (SW) |
| Time-zone shift | -2h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~839 kg | ~182 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~732 kg | ~159 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$428 USD | ~$93 USD |
Flying from Sydney to Perth produces roughly 839 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Sydney → Melbourne flight emits about 182 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 657 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 31 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 732 kg and 159 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Sydney to Perth route covers 3,291 km (2,045 miles), staying within Oceania. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is located in New South Wales, Australia, while Perth (population: 2,085,973) is in Western Australia, Australia.
The Sydney to Melbourne route covers 713 km (443 miles), remaining within Oceania. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia, and Melbourne (population: 5,078,193) is in Victoria, Australia.
Flying from Sydney to Perth takes approximately 4h 37min, while Sydney to Melbourne takes 1h 23min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 53h 29min for the first route and 11h 35min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Sydney, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Perth and Melbourne as a destination.
The 2,578 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 4,278 km and 927 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 3,351 km of driving.
Perth (Australia) has a population of 2,085,973 and is located in the Western Australia region of Oceania. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Melbourne (Australia) has a population of 5,078,193 and is situated in Victoria, Oceania. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Perth (Australia) — a city of 2,085,973 in the Western Australia region of Oceania. Despite being the longer of the two at 3,291 km, it makes sense when Perth itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 4,278 km of road and a fuel cost band around $428 USD. The initial bearing is 264° (W), so a great-circle flight leaves Sydney heading roughly W.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Melbourne (Australia) — a city of 5,078,193 in the Victoria region of Oceania. It is also the shorter of the two at 713 km, saving about 3h 14min of flying and around 657 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 927 km of road and a fuel cost in the $93 USD range. Departing Sydney, the great-circle bearing toward Melbourne is 230° (SW).
Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Perth (-31.95°, 115.86°) sit with a time-zone shift of -2 hours. Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Melbourne (-37.81°, 144.96°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Melbourne is closer at 713 km, which is 2,578 km (78%) shorter.
3,291 km (2,045 miles). Flight: ~4h 37min.
713 km (443 miles). Flight: ~1h 23min.
Flying to Melbourne is faster at ~1h 23min, saving about 3h 14min compared to Perth.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.