Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Chiang Rai?
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 Chiang Rai or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Kota Kinabalu, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Chiang Rai or Kota Kinabalu?
Chiang Rai
If you find yourself dreaming of a vacation in Northern Thailand, consider the metropolitan city of Chiang Rai. This centrally located capital of the Chiang Rai province provides an excellent home base for exploring the surrounding areas. While it serves well as a home base, it has its own charms worth wandering.
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 Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Chiang Rai Prices
Thailand PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Rai $51Kota Kinabalu $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $51, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $70. 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 Chiang Rai and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Rai $19Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Rai $38Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai 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: Chiang Rai Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Rai $3.51Kota Kinabalu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
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Bus to White Temple$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Chiang Rai Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $30
- Chiang Rai 4 Temples and Lalitta Cafe Full Day Tour with Transfer: $53
- Chiang Rai Airport to Chiang Khong & Golden Triangle Transfer: $54
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $80
- 2 days tour in Chiang rai, included hotel, lunch,pick up&transfer: $137
- Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai Private Scenic Transfer Tour: $149
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: $24
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Chiang Rai 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 dayChiang Rai $22Kota Kinabalu $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Private Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $36
- Chiang Rai Private Thai and Akha Cooking Class with Market Visit: $48
- Thai Cooking Class in Chiangrai with The Market Tour: $49
- Private Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $52
- Lanna Home Cooking Class at Give Green Farm House: $53
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $55
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $55
- Jungle Trek and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $55
- Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour: $57
- Private Local Food Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $59
- From Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure Group Trekking Bamboo Cooking: $61
- Chiang Rai City Highlights with Traditional Dinner & Show: $103
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Kota Kinabalu Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies Tour: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $93
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $142
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $189
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Rai $8.13Kota Kinabalu $6.65
Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Join Tour Chiang Rai Pick Up Only In Chiang Rai: $26
- Half Day Joyfull Tour in Chiang Rai Downtown: $30
- Scenic View ATV Tour and Pineapple Farm Visit in Chiang Rai: $34
- White Temple, Blue and Red Temple Tour from Chiang Rai: $35
- One Day Group Tour Experience in Chiangrai: $40
- Chiang Rai Discovery: Full‑Day Guided Tour & Free Lunch Buffet: $41
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $41
- Full Day Group Tour in Chiang Rai: $42
- Half Day Cycling Tour to the White temple: $48
- Chiang Rai Iconic 4 Temples White Blue Red and Lalitta Cafe Tour: $50
- Chiang Rai 7 Incredible Highlights Tour Lunch Included: $55
- ChiangRai Guided 7 Major Sites+Buffet Lunch #All ticket included: $65
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- 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
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $88
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
- Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring Tour: $84
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Rai $8.98Kota Kinabalu $7.43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Rai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chiang Rai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Rai 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 Chiang Rai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Rai Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Rai or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Rai 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.