Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Kathmandu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu or Kota Kinabalu?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia.
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Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $55Kota Kinabalu $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $55, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $70. 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 Kathmandu and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $35Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $70Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.10Kota Kinabalu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer Service: $7.50
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer (Airport to Hotel or Hotel to Airport): $8.00
- Kathmandu Airport Departure Transfer – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $9.00
- Private Airport Transfer to Kathmandu Hotels: $12
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $13
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer Service: $18
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle: $20
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer to hotels – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $20
- Tribhuvan International Airport KTM Private Transfer to Kathmandu: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport (BKI) Private Transfer: $23
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $24
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $13Kota Kinabalu $31
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.19
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Dinner for Two$2.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
- Momo, Dhalbhat & Thukpa Cooking Class, Nepal: $25
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
- Kathmandu Kitchens Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Newari Cooking Class with a Home Chef- From market to the plate.: $50
- Yomari and Bara Newari Food Cooking Class Cultural Experience: $50
- Food Tour in Kathmandu: $57
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
- Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
- Authentic Nepali Dinner with Live Cultural Show: $65
- Cooking Tour in Kathmandu - Learn as Local with Nepalese Family: $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $32
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Klias River Dinner Cruise with Firefly Spotting: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $91
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $140
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $7.05Kota Kinabalu $6.62
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.32
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.30
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.32
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Private Chandragiri Cable Car, Temple Visit & Monkey Temple Tour: $5.00
- Full Day Top 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $7.60
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $7.60
- Kathmandu Sightseeing | UNESCO World Heritage sites Private/Group: $8.00
- Private UNESCO World Heritage Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Site: $9.00
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Tickets: $9.50
- Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha Hike & Tour - Private/Group: $9.50
- KATHMANDU FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR (6-hrs): $10
- Kathmandu UNESCO Tour & Tibetan Singing Bowl/Sound Healing: $10
- Chitwan to Bandipur Tourist Bus Luxury Sofa Seater: $10
- Nagarkot Sunrise & Hike to Changu Narayan Day Tour from Kathmandu: $10
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private & Small Group Tour: $10
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sabah Mali-Mali Garden Spa Massage Experience: $27
- Bongawan River Cruise, City Tour & Fireflies: $27
- Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu: $38
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- 2 Hour Kota Kinabalu Local Street Food and History Walking Tour: $47
- Mangrove Kayaking Experience in Borneo: $47
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $57
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.02Kota Kinabalu $7.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kota Kinabalu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kota Kinabalu than you might in Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Kota Kinabalu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu 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.