Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Koh Chang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu?
Koh Chang
Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.
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 Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Chang $48Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $48, 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 Koh Chang and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Chang $24Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Chang $48Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang 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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Chang $13Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang
Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $26
- Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Trat/ Koh Chang: $116
- Departure Private Airport Transfer : Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport: $116
- Private Transfer from Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport or Don Muang Airport: $199
- Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $209
- Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $216
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Koh Chang 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 dayKoh Chang $17Kota 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.Koh Chang $5.46Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Koh Chang
For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $22
- Full-Day Koh Chang Tour with Lunch : $54
- Bubblemaker, experience dive for kids from 8 to 10 years old (Koh Chang): $83
- PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $152
- 1-Day Adventure in Diving in Koh Chang: $281
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 dayKoh Chang $4.68Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Chang and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu 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 Koh Chang Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Koh Chang often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
In July, Koh Chang is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Chang 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In October, Koh Chang usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Koh Chang gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Chang 27°C (81°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Koh Chang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
November to February is the dry season in Koh Chang. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Chang usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Koh Chang. In the winter, Koh Chang often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Chang in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Chang 26°C (79°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kota Kinabalu. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In Koh Chang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during spring. Koh Chang gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Koh Chang is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 29°C (84°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Chang 29°C (84°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Koh Chang
| Koh Chang | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 513 mm (20.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 440 mm (17.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 514 mm (20.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 476 mm (18.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.