Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Deqin 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 Deqin 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: Deqin or Kota Kinabalu?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeqin $65Kota Kinabalu $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $56. 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 Deqin and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $36Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $72Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $19Kota Kinabalu $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- AIRPORT TRANSFER & HOTEL TRANSFER: $44
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $84
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- 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
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $16Kota Kinabalu $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $91
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Kota Kinabalu $6.56
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Night Glow Stand Up Paddle Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $44
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $45
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Rainbow Island Ferry Tickets with Lunch: $47
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photowalking Tour: $52
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Kota Kinabalu $7.33
When comparing the travel costs between Deqin and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Deqin 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 Deqin Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
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.