Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Cochin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cochin or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cochin 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: Cochin or Kota Kinabalu?
Cochin
Cochin is a large city in Kerala, India. It's a cosmopolitan commercial port city with a population of over two million and is a major tourist destination. The city has a diverse population that has migrated from elsewhere in Kerala, as well as the rest of India. The city continues to become more cosmopolitan with fashion shifting to western styles. There are also many large shopping malls as well as an enthusiasm for sports such as football (soccer) or cricket.
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 India, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCochin $36Kota Kinabalu $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Cochin is $36, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $53. 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 Cochin and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCochin $15Kota Kinabalu $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCochin $30Kota Kinabalu $40
Compare Hotels in Cochin and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Cochin 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: Cochin Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cochin $10Kota Kinabalu $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- AIRPORT TRANSFER & HOTEL TRANSFER: $60
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $48
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $82
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- 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: $29
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $33
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $29
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $33
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Cochin or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Cochin 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 dayCochin $12Kota Kinabalu $17
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 Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $87
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $91
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cochin $10Kota Kinabalu $6.25
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kayak Experience at Kota Kinabalu Sabah: $26
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $44
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Rainbow Island Ferry Tickets with Lunch: $48
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photowalking Tour: $50
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $52
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCochin $8.75Kota Kinabalu $6.98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cochin and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Cochin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cochin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cochin 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 Cochin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cochin Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cochin or Kota Kinabalu?
Cochin has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Cochin 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.