Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Kota Kinabalu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $76Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $76, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $49. 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 Bangkok and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $41Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $82Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $5.77Kota Kinabalu $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.18
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Skytrain Ticket$4.36
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.87
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Ferry Ride$0.71
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Taxi From Airport$6.82
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Short Taxi Ride$2.45
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Boat Taxi$1.36
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Trains to airport$4.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus transfer to/from Bangkok: $4.06
- Bus transfer from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport: $4.99
- Ayothaya Floating Market Admission Ticket with Transfer(Optional): $8.31
- Airport BKK||DMK : Private car Transfer to downtowns Bangkok: $12
- Bangkok Airport Arrival – Shared Transfer: $14
- Bangkok International Airport - Departure Transfer: $15
- Bangkok International Airport - Arrival Transfer: $17
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer: $17
- Departure Private Transfer Bangkok City to Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK by Sedan: $17
- Arrival Private Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK to Bangkok City by Sedan Car: $17
- Bangkok Don Muang Airport Shared Transfer : $18
- Arrival Private Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK to Bangkok City Business MPV: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $18Kota Kinabalu $15
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$25
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$5.46
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.23
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.82
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$5.46
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Pad Thai$1.91
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Airport Lunch for 2$15
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Lunch for 2$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $19
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $20
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $21
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $23
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $24
- Chao Phraya Buffet Dinner Viva Alangka Cruise: $27
- Alangka Luxury Buffet Dinner Cruise With Live Music: $27
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $27
- Riverside Dinner Buffet Cruise On Chao Phraya: $27
- Nopparat Thai Dinner with Classical Dance: $28
- Chao Phraya River Serenade: VIVA Alangka Dinner Cruise, Bangkok: $28
- Bangkok Riverside Dinner Buffet Cruised Tour On Chao Phraya: $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Private Kinabalu Night Tour with Cultural Show and Dinner: $62
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $86
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $144
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $16Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.36
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$9.55
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.36
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$5.46
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Club Cover Charge$10
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$65
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Fish Pedicure$4.09
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$2.73
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Siriraj Museum (2)$11
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Thailand's Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $1.99
- Skip the Line: Ayutthaya Floating Market Admission Ticket: $5.33
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.33
- Chinatown and Wat Traimit Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.00
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket of Ayothaya Floating Market: $8.31
- Pororo Aqua Park Entry Ticket: $9.46
- Skip the Line: Patpong Museum Guided Tour : $9.70
- Wat Pho Reclining Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl.): $10
- Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $10
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Audio Guide: $10
- Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Hua Hin Featured Day Tour (Sunday) by akGO! Tour: $11
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Sunset Charter Cruise Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.97Kota Kinabalu $6.34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Pub Crawl and Club Night With Shots & VIP Entrance: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Bangkok would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangkok than you might in Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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.
When is the best time to visit Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu?
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.
Should I visit Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Bangkok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. Bangkok usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during summer. Bangkok gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bangkok is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 29°C (84°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBangkok 29°C (84°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
Also, November to February in Bangkok is the dry season. May to October in Bangkok is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok usually gets less rain in October than Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bangkok this time of the year. In the autumn, Bangkok often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun.
Bangkok is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBangkok 28°C (83°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Bangkok is November to February. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bangkok. Bangkok usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during winter. Bangkok gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Bangkok is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bangkok in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBangkok 27°C (80°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Bangkok during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bangkok usually gets less rain in April than Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bangkok. In the spring, Bangkok often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Bangkok gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun.
In April, Bangkok is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 31°C (87°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBangkok 31°C (87°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
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.