Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Bangalore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangalore or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bangalore or Sandakan?
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.
Sandakan
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 Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangalore $44Sandakan $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $44, 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 Bangalore and Sandakan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangalore $20Sandakan $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangalore $40Sandakan $40
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Sandakan
Looking for a hotel in Bangalore 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangalore $9.70Sandakan $33
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
- Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Bangalore Hotels to Bengaluru International Airport: $45
- One-Way Private City Transfer Mysore & Bangalore: $50
- Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru City -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $79
- From Mysore guided day tour with transfers: $167
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Sandakan?
Prices for flights to both Sandakan 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 $13Sandakan $19
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: $32
- Private Cooking Demonstration in a Bangalore Home: $45
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $51
- Indian Cooking Class in Bangalore with an Award Winning Chef: $54
- Discover Bangalore's Cuisine: Private Half-Day Cooking Experience: $60
- Private In-Home Cooking Demonstration and Meal in Bangalore: $68
- Private Cooking Dining Experience in Bengaluru: $74
- Private Indian Cooking Class and Meal in Bangalore Home: $74
- 3-Hour Private Cooking Lesson and Meal in a Bangalore Home: $74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangalore $11Sandakan $7.19
Tours and Activities in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bangalore Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Bangalore Night Walking Tour: $13
- Bangalore Heritage and Cultural Walking Tour: $14
- Cubbon Park Heritage Walk: A self-guided tour of Bangalore's unique history: $15
- Bangalore Night Walking Tour (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
- Walk on Tales of Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
- Walk of Divinity Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
- Food Walk Tour Bangalore: $25
- Bangalore Private Tour: $35
- Hire a guide for full day Bangalore city tour with own transport: $39
- See Bangalore through my eyes (Cultural / Historical / Walking Tour): $42
- Basavanagudi Walking Tour with Bull Temple: $48
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangalore $9.07Sandakan $6.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangalore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bangalore:
- Pub Crawl Bangalore (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $34
- Pub Crawl in Bengaluru - A lovely private evening experience with a local: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangalore and Sandakan, we can see that Sandakan 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan 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 Sandakan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Sandakan?
Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore 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.
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.