Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Sandakan can help you decide which place is right for you.
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Arab Emirates, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Sandakan is $58. 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 Abu Dhabi and Sandakan in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Sandakan? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
Prices for flights to both Sandakan and Abu Dhabi 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Sandakan, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Sandakan is in Asia, 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 Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Sandakan Expensive?.
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Sandakan, 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Both Sandakan and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. In July, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Sandakan. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Sandakan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Sandakan during summer. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies, while Sandakan receives 221 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is a little warmer than Sandakan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Sandakan averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Both Sandakan and Abu Dhabi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in October than Sandakan. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 253 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the autumn, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Sandakan. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sandakan receives 191 hours of full sun.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally around the same temperature as Sandakan. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Sandakan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Sandakan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Sandakan. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Sandakan during winter. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Sandakan receives 156 hours of full sun in the winter.
Abu Dhabi is cooler than Sandakan in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Sandakan fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Sandakan. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in April than Sandakan. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the spring, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Sandakan. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sandakan receives 247 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Abu Dhabi is around the same temperature as Sandakan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Sandakan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
Abu Dhabi | Sandakan | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) |
Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) |
Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) |