Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Bangalore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bangalore or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Bangalore and Kota Kinabalu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bangalore or Kota Kinabalu?
Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Bangalore Prices
India PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangalore $51Kota Kinabalu $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $51, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $68. 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 Bangalore and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangalore $19Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangalore $38Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Bangalore or Kota Kinabalu? 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangalore $9.20Kota Kinabalu $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangalore
Also for Bangalore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $16
- Bangalore airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
- VIP Bangalore Airport Transfer: Comfort & Convenience: $23
- Wild Life Jeep Safari Tour at Bannerghatta with Pvt Transfer: $80
- Bangalore:National Gallery of Modern Art with Transfers: $114
- From Mysore guided day tour with transfers: $159
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Bangalore 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
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Food Meals for one dayBangalore $21Kota Kinabalu $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Family: $35
- Bengaluru: Tika Ceremony & Street Food Tour with Souvenirs: $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $29
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $95
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangalore $10Kota Kinabalu $6.43
Tours and Activities in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Delhi: Sunrise Taj Mahal, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $5.69
- Indoor Mini Golf Madness Ticket: $10
- Home-Cooked South Indian Food Experience: $14
- Walk of Divinity Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $19
- Bangalore Walking Tour KR Flower Market,Fort,Tippu palace: $20
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Agra Fort, and Baby Taj Tour: $24
- Motor Bike Ride City Tour with local Expert: $33
- Foodie Tour, Local Market, & Mystery Nandi Temple: $34
- Palace, Temples, Fort & Markets Walking Tour: $34
- Experience Bangalore - Evening City Walk Tour & Market Visit: $39
- Walking Tour of Historic Forts, Palaces & Markets: $46
- Bengaluru: 3 Hour New and Old City Guided Walking Tour: $46
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Optional Ticket: $143
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Island Hopping Tour From Kota Kinabalu (2 island): $90
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangalore $8.61Kota Kinabalu $7.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangalore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bangalore:
- Bangalore:The Original bengaluru pub crawl: $36
- Pub Crawl Bangalore (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $47
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangalore and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Bangalore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bangalore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangalore 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 Kota Kinabalu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kota Kinabalu than you might in Bangalore.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangalore Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Kota Kinabalu?
Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore and Kota Kinabalu, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.