Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Hyderabad?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hyderabad or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Hyderabad and Kota Kinabalu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Hyderabad or Kota Kinabalu?
Hyderabad
Hyderabad, located in Southern India, is the capital of the state of Telangana. It is a city rich with history and tradition as well as booming in the technology industry, hosting the India headquarters for both Microsoft and Google. In addition to many upscale restaurants and shops, Hyderabad is also home to important historic sites and beautiful landmarks.
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 2-Week Tours in India, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in 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 dayHyderabad $50Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Hyderabad is $50, 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 Hyderabad and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHyderabad $21Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHyderabad $42Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Hyderabad and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Hyderabad 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: Hyderabad Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hyderabad $13Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hyderabad
Also for Hyderabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hyderabad Airport Transfer: $16
- Mumbai/Goa/Kochi/Bangalore - Private One-Way Transfer: $24
- Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi Airport(HYD) to Downtown hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- US$ 40 Safe Transfer Airport To City Hotels In A Private Car Upto 3pax: $43
- Private Transfer from Rajiv Gandhi (HYD) Airport to Hyderabad: $62
- Private Transfer from Hyderabad to Rajiv Gandhi (HYD) Airport: $62
- Private Transfer Round Trip Downtown to Hyderabad Airport: $87
- 6-hours Golconda Fort & Qutub Shahi Tombs Tour with transfer: $97
- Full Day Ramoji Film City Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Hyderabad or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Hyderabad 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 dayHyderabad $18Kota Kinabalu $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hyderabad
For Hyderabad, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hyderabad Evening Tour with Boat Ride, Laser Show & Dinner: $97
- Private Half Day Tour: Dinner cruise, Old city shopping ride & Laser show: $175
- Cooking Demonstration of Ethnic Hyderabadi Cuisine at Private Residence (Dinner): $201
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.Hyderabad $16Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Hyderabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hyderabad.
- Charminar Skip the line Entry Ticket: $11
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Hyderabad (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $14
- Night Walk Hyderabad (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Hyderabad (2 Hours Guided Tour): $17
- Spiritual Trails of Hyderabad (2 Hours Guided Temples Tour): $17
- Heritage Walking Tour of Old City and Charminar: $45
- Private Half-Day Tour of Hyderabad Including Sound & Light Show: $48
- Full-Day Private Guided Tour of Hyderabad: $52
- Golconda Fort & Hyderabad City Tour: $53
- Hyderabads Grand Heritage City Tour: $53
- 4 hours Tour of Golkonda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad: $60
- Skip The Line Charminar E-Tickets with guide: $61
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 dayHyderabad $11Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When comparing the travel costs between Hyderabad and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Hyderabad 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 Hyderabad Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hyderabad or Kota Kinabalu?
Hyderabad has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Hyderabad 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.