Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Kaunas?
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 Kaunas 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 Kaunas 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: Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu?
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.
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 Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Kaunas Prices
Lithuania PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKaunas €117Kota Kinabalu €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Kaunas is €117, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is €60. 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 Kaunas and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKaunas €42Kota Kinabalu €18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKaunas €84Kota Kinabalu €36
Compare Hotels in Kaunas and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Kaunas 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: Kaunas Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kaunas €15Kota Kinabalu €22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kaunas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kaunas:
- CO2-Offset Private Transfer from Kaunas to Kaunas Airport KUN: $60
- CO2-Offset Departure Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN: $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport (BKI) Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $24
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $24
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to 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 Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Kaunas 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 dayKaunas €58Kota Kinabalu €27
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
- Kota Kinabalu Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies Tour: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $74
- 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 Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kaunas €18Kota Kinabalu €5.72
Tours and Activities in Kaunas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaunas are as follows:
- Best of A Modernism and Medieval History Self Guided tour: $15
- Self-Guided Secrets of Kaunas Exploration Game Tour: $23
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $54
- Kaunas Old Town tour + IX Fort Museum (BONUS): $58
- Recreational Tour in Kaunas - The City of Freedom: $68
- 1 day Self-Guided Bike Tour with Train Tickets: $69
- Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Kaunas: $81
- Tours in Kaunas Old Town: $100
- Kaunas : Sightseeing Walking Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $117
- Kaunas, Lithuania 2-Hour Sightseeing Tour: $176
- Private Kaunas Tour Rumsiskes Museum and Pazaislis Monastery: $255
- Tour from Kaunas to Riga via The Hill of Crosses, Rundale, Bauska: $255
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan River Cruise, City Tour & Fireflies: $26
- Sabah Mali-Mali Garden Spa Massage Experience: $27
- Pulau Sapi & Manukan Sabah Shared Activity Adventure: $43
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Mangrove Kayaking Experience in Borneo: $47
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $50
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKaunas €15Kota Kinabalu €6.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaunas and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kaunas is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kaunas is in Europe and Kota Kinabalu is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Kaunas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaunas 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 Kaunas Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Kaunas. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas 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 Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu?
Kaunas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Kaunas is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the summer. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kaunas. Kaunas usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during summer. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKaunas 18°C (64°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Kaunas during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the autumn, Kaunas is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kaunas in October average around 8°C (46°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kaunas usually gets less rain in October than Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKaunas 8°C (46°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Kota Kinabalu. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kaunas can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kaunas is generally much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around -5°C (23°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during winter. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKaunas -5°C (23°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Kota Kinabalu. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the activities around the city during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
Kaunas is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the spring. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around 7°C (44°F) in April, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas usually gets less rain in April than Kota Kinabalu. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKaunas 7°C (44°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Kaunas
| Kaunas | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (25°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (33°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.