Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangkok or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan 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 Sandakan?
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.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, 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 dayBangkok $76Sandakan $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $76, 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 Bangkok and Sandakan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $41Sandakan $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $82Sandakan $40
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Sandakan
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $5.77Sandakan $33
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
- Airport BKK||DMK : Private car Transfer to downtowns Bangkok: $12
- Private transfer from Hotel in Bangkok to BKK Airport : $14
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer (BKK/DMK): $14
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok HTL- APT(BKK): $14
- Bangkok International Airport - Departure Transfer: $15
- Private Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Transfer To City Hotels Or Hotel To Airport: $15
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok APT-HTL (BKK): $17
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer: $17
- Bangkok International Airport - Arrival Transfer: $17
- Departure Private Transfer Bangkok City to Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK by Sedan: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Sandakan?
Prices for flights to both Sandakan 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 $18Sandakan $19
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.
- Bangkok Food Tour and Sightseeing with Tuktuk: $16
- 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
- Meridian Sunset Dinner Cruise - Floating Paradise From ICONSIAM Bangkok: $23
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $24
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $26
- Alangka Luxury Buffet Dinner Cruise With Live Music: $27
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $27
- Chao Phraya Buffet Dinner Viva Alangka Cruise: $27
- Riverside Dinner Buffet Cruise On Chao Phraya: $27
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.Bangkok $16Sandakan $7.19
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
- Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.20
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.31
- Skip the line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.52
- Chinatown and Wat Traimit Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.00
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket of Ayothaya Floating Market: $8.28
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket of Ayothaya Floating Market: $8.28
- Pororo Aqua Park Entry Ticket: $9.46
- Skip the Line: Patpong Museum Guided Tour : $9.66
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Audio Guide: $10
- Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour: $10
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- 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
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.97Sandakan $6.59
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 Sandakan, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Sandakan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Sandakan?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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.
When is the best time to visit Bangkok or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Sandakan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sandakan 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 Sandakan. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. Bangkok usually receives less sunshine than Sandakan during summer. Bangkok gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Sandakan receives 221 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Bangkok is around the same temperature as Sandakan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bangkok in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Sandakan averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBangkok 29°C (84°F)Sandakan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Sandakan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Sandakan. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan 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 Sandakan. Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Sandakan. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 253 mm (10 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 more sunshine than Sandakan. Bangkok gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sandakan receives 191 hours of full sun.
In October, Bangkok is generally around the same temperature as Sandakan. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 28°C (83°F), and Sandakan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBangkok 28°C (83°F)Sandakan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Sandakan in the Winter?
Both Sandakan 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 Sandakan 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 Sandakan. In January, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Sandakan. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 437 mm (17.2 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 Sandakan during winter. Bangkok gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Sandakan receives 156 hours of full sun in the winter.
Bangkok is around the same temperature as Sandakan in the winter. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Sandakan fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBangkok 27°C (80°F)Sandakan 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Sandakan in the Spring?
Both Sandakan 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 Sandakan year-round.
May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bangkok usually gets less rain in April than Sandakan. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bangkok. In the spring, Bangkok often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sandakan. Bangkok gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sandakan receives 247 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Bangkok is around the same temperature as Sandakan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bangkok in April average around 31°C (87°F), and Sandakan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBangkok 31°C (87°F)Sandakan 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Sandakan and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Sandakan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.