Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Haifa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haifa 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 Haifa 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: Haifa or Kota Kinabalu?
Haifa
Located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is also a beautiful and strategically located city near the border with Lebanon. The population of Haifa, which is approximately 300,000, is surprisingly diverse. There are Jews, Muslim, and Christian Arabs throughout the city. While Haifa is an industrial city with a strong work ethic and a good job base, it is also a beautiful city with many gardens and a stunning coastline. Today the job base has increasingly become technology based with some large companies such as Google and Microsoft offering employment in the area. Haifa University is also the country's top technology university.
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 Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHaifa $123Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $123, 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 Haifa and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaifa $74Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaifa $148Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Haifa 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: Haifa Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haifa $4.93Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haifa
Also for Haifa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV): $173
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv City: $173
- Transfers all over the Holyland: Haifa, TLV, Airport, JLM, Jordan: $195
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 Haifa or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Haifa 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 dayHaifa $44Kota Kinabalu $15
Typical Food Prices in Haifa
For Haifa, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$27
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.Haifa $5.68Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Haifa
For Haifa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Haifa Port Shore Excursion: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port: $120
- Haifa Private Tour: $160
- Haifa, Acre & Rosh Anikra Grottos Haifa Port FullDay Shared Tour: $231
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port. Private Tour: $248
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2024 - Small Group: $255
- Romantic Walking Tour In Haifa for Couples: $290
- Full Day Tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: $290
- Christianity Day Tour: Haifa Port to Nazareth and Sea of Galilee : $295
- Haifa Port: Full-Day Christianity Cruise to Galilee: $388
- Haifa, Acre and Rosh Anikra for Cruises with Licensed Guide: $405
- Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra Private Day Tour: $700
- Wine private tour of Central Israel: $949
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 dayHaifa $13Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa 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 Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Haifa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Haifa than you might in Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haifa Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haifa or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Haifa. When comparing the sizes of Haifa 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 Haifa 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 Haifa or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Kota Kinabalu. Haifa 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. Haifa usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 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 Haifa this time of the year. In the summer, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
In July, Haifa is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 27°C (81°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHaifa 27°C (81°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa 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, Haifa usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 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 Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Haifa is cooler than Kota Kinabalu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHaifa 24°C (75°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Haifa during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Haifa 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 Haifa. Haifa usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Haifa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Haifa is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Haifa in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHaifa 14°C (57°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa 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, Haifa usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 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 Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during spring. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Haifa is generally cooler than Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 19°C (66°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHaifa 19°C (66°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Haifa
| Haifa | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 100 mm (3.9 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 | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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) | 20 mm (0.8 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 | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 110 mm (4.3 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.