Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Kao-hsiung?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kao-hsiung or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kao-hsiung and Kota Kinabalu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kao-hsiung or Kota Kinabalu?
Kao-hsiung
Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.
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 Historical Tours in Taiwan, The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKao-hsiung $102Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Kao-hsiung is $102, 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 Kao-hsiung and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKao-hsiung $56Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKao-hsiung $112Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Kao-hsiung and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Kao-hsiung 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: Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kao-hsiung $11Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:
- Kaohsiung Airport -> Kaohsiung Hotel Private Transfer (Large room for luggage) : $35
- Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung City Transfer: $41
- Guanziling Resorts to Kaohsiung Airport KHH Departure Transfer: $49
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $71
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port : $71
- Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port: $79
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $79
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $98
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Taitung Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $152
- Explore Kaohsiung - 8 Hours Private Transfers - Best of Kaohsiung Sites: $179
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- 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
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Kao-hsiung or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Kao-hsiung 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 dayKao-hsiung $32Kota Kinabalu $15
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.Kao-hsiung $20Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:
- Kaohsiung Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $48
- Private Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: $75
- Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
- Day Tour to Qigu Salt Mountain, Chikan Tower and Anping Castle : $87
- Tainan Siraya Nature and Culture One Day Tour: $90
- Private Custom Kaohsiung Day Tour: $100
- Half-day tour Kaohsiung: $103
- Kaohsiung Walking Day Tour: $130
- Kaohsiung Suburbs Full-Day Tour: $150
- Kaohsiung /Pingtung Day Tour : $150
- Private Tour Tainan Ancient Capital and Wushantou Reservoir: $156
- Private Tour Alishan Culture and Ecology from Kaohsiung: $156
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Sunset E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- 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
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKao-hsiung $10Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kao-hsiung and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kao-hsiung is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Kao-hsiung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kao-hsiung 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 Kao-hsiung Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kao-hsiung or Kota Kinabalu?
Kao-hsiung has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kao-hsiung 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.