Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Hoi An?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hoi An 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 Hoi An 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: Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu?
Hoi An
Located just south of the city of Da Nang, Hoi An is famous for it's beautiful old town. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1999, mass tourism has grown and the city has felt the growing pains. Most of the homes and shops in the old town are now used for commercial purposes. The city is still quaint, but the old town is lined with tailor shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Foreigners are required to purchase a ticket to enter the old town of Hoi An (120,000 VND, about $5).
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Vietnam, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Vietnam, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHoi An $46Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Hoi An is $46, 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 Hoi An and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHoi An $21Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHoi An $42Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Hoi An and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Hoi An 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: Hoi An Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hoi An $19Kota Kinabalu $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Hoi An are as follows:
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Taxi From Danang to Hoi An$8.79
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Bus From Hoi An Bus Station to Town$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hoi An
Also for Hoi An, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer to Da Nang Hotels or to Hoi An City: $4.10
- Hoi An and Da Nang Airport/City Shuttle Transfer Service: $6.00
- Da Nang Airport : transfer to Da Nang center / to Hoi An: $7.06
- Da Nang Airport : transfer to Da Nang center / to Hoi An: $7.06
- From One-Way Shared Bus Transfer to Da Nang: $8.82
- From Hoi An/Da Nang: Shuttle Bus Transfer to My Son: $9.00
- Hue: Transfer to/from Airport, Hoi An, Danang by Private Car: $10
- Basket Boat Ticket & Transfer in Cam Thanh Village: $14
- Hoi An : Cam Thanh Basket Boat Riding W Two-way Transfers: $14
- Hoi An Bamboo Basket Boat Tour with Two-way Transfers: $14
- Hoi An : Cam Thanh Basket Boat Riding W Two-way Transfers: $14
- Hoi An Basket Boat Ride Includes Two-way Transfers: $14
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- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- 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
- 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 Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Hoi An 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 dayHoi An $9.95Kota Kinabalu $15
Typical Food Prices in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Bamboo Village (for Two)$14
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.99
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bamboo Basket Boat Tour with Optional Lunch/Dinner: $14
- Hoi An:Traditional Cooking Class with Cam Thanh Local Family: $21
- Traditional Cooking Class & meal w Cam Thanh Family: $21
- Hoi An/Da Nang: Vietnamese Cooking Class with Transportation: $22
- From Cooking Class at Organic Farm: $22
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Cooking Class & Bamboo Boats: $23
- Traditional Vietnamese Cooking Class in Leina Cookery: $23
- Evening Tra Que Cooking Class with Locals in Herb Village: $24
- Hoi An : Basket Boat Ride & Cooking Class with Market Tour: $24
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with Local Family in Hoi An: $24
- Cooking Class with Traditional Vietnamese Meals: $24
- Hoi An : Cooking Class W Optional Basket Boat & Market Tour: $25
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.Hoi An $13Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hoi An
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hoi An's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Golf (for Two)$148
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Short Boat Ride$1.60
Tours and Activities in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hoi An Ancient Town - Free Walking Tour: $2.05
- Hoi An Ancient Town- Free Walking Tour with Local Guide: $2.05
- Experience Kim Bong Carpentry with Local Artisans: $6.57
- Experience Bamboo Basket Boat on Coconut village w Locals: $6.89
- Da Nang/Hoi An:Experience Basket Boat ride in Coconut Forest: $7.18
- Hoi An Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Bus to My Son Sanctuary with Entrance ticket: $8.00
- Experience the Art of Vietnamese Coffee Making: $11
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Bicycle Tour: $12
- Cam Thanh Tour with Bamboo Basket Boat: $12
- Hoi An : Bamboo Basket Boat Tour: $12
- Basket Boat Experience: $13
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 : $293
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $140
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHoi An $9.06Kota Kinabalu $6.34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Hoi An are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$9.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Hoi An
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Hoi An:
- Pub Crawl by Bus with Shots at Each Bar: $8.21
When comparing the travel costs between Hoi An 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 Hoi An Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hoi An. When comparing the sizes of Hoi An 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 Hoi An 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 Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hoi An as well as Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
Also, February to July in Hoi An is the dry season. September to January in Hoi An is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An gets 71 mm (2.8 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 Hoi An this time of the year. In the summer, Hoi An often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
In July, Hoi An is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 29°C (85°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHoi An 29°C (85°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Hoi An are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hoi An 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. It's quite rainy in Hoi An. In October, Hoi An usually receives more rain than Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Hoi An usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Hoi An gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Hoi An is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hoi An averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHoi An 25°C (78°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Hoi An during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hoi An because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
February to July is the dry season in Hoi An. September to January is the rainy season in Hoi An. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hoi An. Hoi An usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Hoi An often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Hoi An is cooler than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hoi An in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHoi An 22°C (71°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Hoi An or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hoi An and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hoi An 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, Hoi An usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Hoi An gets 33 mm (1.3 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 Hoi An, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hoi An usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during spring. Hoi An gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Hoi An is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 26°C (80°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHoi An 26°C (80°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Hoi An
| Hoi An | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (85°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 331 mm (13 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 613 mm (24.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (76°F) | 376 mm (14.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 223 mm (8.8 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.