Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Hyderabad?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hyderabad or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Hyderabad or Sandakan?
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.
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in India, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHyderabad $50Sandakan $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Hyderabad is $50, while the average daily cost in Sandakan is $58. 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 Sandakan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHyderabad $21Sandakan $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHyderabad $42Sandakan $40
Compare Hotels in Hyderabad and Sandakan
Looking for a hotel in Hyderabad or Sandakan? 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 Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hyderabad $13Sandakan $33
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Hyderabad or Sandakan?
Prices for flights to both Sandakan 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 $18Sandakan $19
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 Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hyderabad $16Sandakan $7.19
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 Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHyderabad $11Sandakan $6.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hyderabad and Sandakan, we can see that Sandakan is more expensive. And not only is Hyderabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hyderabad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hyderabad 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan than you might in Hyderabad.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hyderabad Expensive? and Is Sandakan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hyderabad or Sandakan?
Hyderabad has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Hyderabad and Sandakan, 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.