Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach?
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.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Airlie Beach $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $141. 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 Kota Kinabalu and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Airlie Beach $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Airlie Beach $116
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach? 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices and Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Airlie Beach $19
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $16
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $17
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $28
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $47
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $59
- Whitehaven Beach Club Transfers from Airlie Beach: $92
- Crayfish Beach Hook Island Camping Transfer: $139
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $314
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Kota Kinabalu 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 dayKota Kinabalu $15Airlie Beach $32
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $72
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Airlie Beach $160
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
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
- Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
- Airlie Beach sightseeing Tour: $50
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $53
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $58
- 2 Hour Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise: $59
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- 1 hour Mimosa Morning Turtle Spotting Cruise: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Airlie Beach $8.99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kota Kinabalu is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach 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 Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach 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 Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach in the Summer?
Both Airlie Beach and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?
Both Airlie Beach and Kota Kinabalu during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Airlie Beachin April. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun.
Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Airlie Beachin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Airlie Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Airlie Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Airlie Beach in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Airlie Beach. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Airlie Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Airlie Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.