Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Delhi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Delhi or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Delhi 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: Delhi or Kota Kinabalu?
Delhi
Delhi is the largest city in northern India and is officially the country's capital. The city has a population of 11 million with the metropolitan population reaching over 16 million. The city is similar in landscape to the rest of its surrounding area. It is very flat with the river Yamuna flowing on the eastern side of the city. The Aravalii Hills are in the western portion of the city. The city's history dates back to the 6th century BC and it has served as a capital for various kingdoms and empires.
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 India, The Best Budget Tours to India, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDelhi $45Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Delhi is $45, 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 Delhi and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDelhi $23Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDelhi $46Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Delhi and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Delhi 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: Delhi Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Delhi $5.28Kota Kinabalu $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Delhi:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$0.12
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Taxi to Airport$1.91
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Subway$0.38
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Uber Cab$0.96
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Delhi Metro Smart Card$1.79
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Auto-rickshaw$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Delhi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Delhi:
- Taj Mahal Sunrise All Inclusive Tour with Transfers : $7.00
- Private Guided Delhi Shopping Tour with Transfers: $8.45
- Private transfers to/from Indira Gandhi International Airport: $10
- From Jaipur Private Full Day Trip with Private Transfers: $10
- New Delhi Airport to Hotel Transfer Private Shuttle Sedan & SUV: $11
- Private Transfer Delhi Hotel to Airport: $14
- Qutub Minar Skip-the-Line E-tickets & guide Delhi transfers: $15
- Delhi - Private arrival transfer from Airport to Hotel: $15
- Delhi hotel to Delhi Airport transfer: $15
- Delhi/Jaipur/Agra: Private One-Way Transfer: $15
- Delhi Private Airport Transfer: $16
- Humayun's Tomb Skip-the-Line E-tickets & guide Delhi transfers: $18
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
- 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 Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- 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 Delhi or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Delhi 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 dayDelhi $12Kota Kinabalu $15
Typical Food Prices in Delhi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Delhi:
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McDonalds$3.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Delhi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Delhi.
- Appetizing virtual cooking class from Delhi: $20
- Old Delhi Food Tour with local, A must for Indian culinary lover!: $21
- Lunch or dinner with local family: $21
- Food Tour Old Delhi: $31
- Old Delhi Heritage Sightseeing | Walking Tour | Street Food Tour: $34
- Old Delhi Food Tour: A Night Time Feast: $36
- Veg and Non veg : Private Cooking Class in Delhi: $43
- Old Delhi Street Food Tour: $44
- Transit Tour-Guided Best Old Delhi's Attractions & Food Tour: $45
- Vegetarian : Private Cooking Class in Delhi: $46
- Culinary Delights Of Delhi Half Day Food Tour: $48
- Delhi Kabul Cooking Class: $50
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
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Delhi $13Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Delhi
Here are a few typical costs in Delhi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Red Fort$10
Tours and Activities in Delhi
Here are a few actual costs in Delhi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Same Day Agra Tour by Gatiman Express Train With Multiple Options: $2.79
- From Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour by Car - All Inclusive: $3.75
- Private Guided Tour to Taj Mahal and Agra Fort with All inclusive: $3.75
- Taj Mahal & Agra Private Day Tour from Delhi with 5* Lunch: $4.00
- Skip-The-Line Sunrise Taj Mahal Private Tour with Multi-Options: $4.25
- Private Full-Day Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Tour from New Delhi: $4.30
- Driving tours through beautiful India: $4.59
- Private Taj Mahal Tour from Delhi by Car: $4.70
- Private Same Day Skip The Line Taj Mahal Tour From Delhi: $4.92
- All Inclusive Taj Mahal Day Tour from Delhi by Car: $5.00
- Private One Day Taj Mahal Tour by Car: $5.00
- Private Day Tour of Taj Mahal by India's Fastest Train or Car - All Inclusive: $5.00
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
- Sunset E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDelhi $8.67Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When comparing the travel costs between Delhi and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Delhi Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Delhi or Kota Kinabalu?
Delhi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Delhi 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 Delhi 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 Delhi or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Delhi and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Delhi 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. Delhi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Delhi usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Delhi gets 170 mm (6.7 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. Delhi usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during summer. Delhi gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Delhi. In the summer, Delhi is a little warmer than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Delhi in July average around 31°C (88°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDelhi 31°C (88°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Delhi or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Delhi as well as Kota Kinabalu. Delhi 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. Delhi usually gets less rain in October than Kota Kinabalu. Delhi gets 10 mm (0.4 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 Delhi this time of the year. In the autumn, Delhi often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Delhi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun.
In October, Delhi is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Delhi average around 26°C (79°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDelhi 26°C (79°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Delhi or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Delhi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Delhi 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 January, Delhi usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Delhi gets 20 mm (0.8 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 Delhi. Delhi usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during winter. Delhi gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
Delhi is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Delhi averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDelhi 15°C (59°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Delhi or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Delhi during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Delhi 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. Delhi usually gets less rain in April than Kota Kinabalu. Delhi gets 40 mm (1.6 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 Delhi. In the spring, Delhi often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Delhi gets 261 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Delhi is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Delhi in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDelhi 29°C (84°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Delhi
| Delhi | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 33°C (91°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 34°C (93°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 31°C (88°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°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.