Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beirut or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Kota Kinabalu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Kota Kinabalu?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.26Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.26, 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 Beirut and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $46
- Private Transfer from Beirut to Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport: $46
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $0.71Kota Kinabalu $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal and Hotel Transfers: $142
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.Beirut $0.26Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Small Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos with Hotel pickup: $15
- Discovering Lebanon: Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $15
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- City Sightseeing Beirut Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $34
- Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $48
- New Small-Group Tour Semi-Private to Jeita,Harissa&Byblos: $50
- From Jeita, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $50
- Full-Day Private Tour to Baalbek, Anjar And Ksara From Beirut: $50
- Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour: $50
- Full-Day Private Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa And Baatara Waterfall: $50
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
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour: $149
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $75
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu River White Water Rafting Tour: $131
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Full Day River Rafting with ATV Adventure in Kiulu : $292
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Kota Kinabalu $6.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir : $50
- Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut: $60
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Byblos & Chateau Musar: History and Wine Tour: $65
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $150
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $150
- Wine Tasting Tour: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Kota Kinabalu 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Kota Kinabalu?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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 Beirut or Kota Kinabalu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Beirut or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Kota Kinabalu. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Beirut usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beirut this time of the year. In the summer, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Beirut is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beirut in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeirut 27°C (81°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Beirut usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Beirut is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 25°C (77°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeirut 25°C (77°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Beirut during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Beirut. Beirut usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kota Kinabalu. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Beirut often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
Beirut is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeirut 13°C (55°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Beirut usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In Beirut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beirut usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during spring. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Beirut is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beirut in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeirut 17°C (63°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Beirut
| Beirut | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.