Which place is cheaper, Amsterdam or Kota Kinabalu?
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 Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam? 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 Amsterdam?
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.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesAmsterdam Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70Amsterdam $240
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $240. 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 Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Amsterdam $116
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Amsterdam $232
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Amsterdam
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam? 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 Amsterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Amsterdam $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $75
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $54
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram$3.65
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Renting a Bike$17
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One Hour Canal Cruise$11
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Single Day Transit Pass$2.97
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport$3.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- 1-Way Train Transfer to/from Haarlem: $7.37
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Leiden: $16
- Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Amsterdam: $22
- Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Eindhoven: $33
- Amsterdam Airport (AMS) Transfer to Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Keukenhof: $35
- Private Transfer: Hotel in Amsterdam to Amsterdam Cruise Port: $40
- Amsterdam Airport Arrival Transfer (Airport to Amsterdam Hotel or Address): $40
- From Keukenhof Gardens Ticket and Transfer: $41
- Amsterdam Airport & Non-Airport Private Transfer to City Center: $54
- From Keukenhof Ticket, Transfer & Live Guide Option: $58
- Amsterdam local transfers: $61
- Amsterdam Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam 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 $31Amsterdam $91
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: $33
- 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: $75
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $94
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $142
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $189
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea$6.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood: $11
- Food Tour Amsterdam | Taste The Best of Dutch Flavors: $14
- Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam with Set Lunch or Dinner: $37
- Romantic Dinner in the Dark Amsterdam: $49
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $60
- 3-course dinner party at a secret pop-up restaurant: $70
- Taste Your Way Around Amsterdam Food Tour: $75
- Amsterdam Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $88
- Top 10 Tastes of Guided Walking Food Tour: $90
- Dutch Food Tour with local guide: $92
- Small-Group Guided Sunset Canoe Tour in Waterland with Dinner: $94
- NEW Amsterdam Breakfast Food Tour with Stroopwafel Workshop: $94
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.62Amsterdam $41
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: $28
- Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu: $38
- Kota Kinabalu 3 Hour Coastal Fishing and Island Tour: $38
- 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
- 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: $56
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum$6.84
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House$19
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Amsterdam: $3.51
- Alternative Tour Amsterdam | Drugs Story, Street Art & More: $3.51
- Amsterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.51
- Amsterdam Introductory Walking Tour with a Local: $3.51
- Self-Guided Tours Amsterdam With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.51
- Walking Tour of Haunted Amsterdam: $3.52
- Two-hour walking tour of Amsterdam with storyteller: $3.52
- Self Guided Space Tourist Exploration of Amsterdam's Cosmic Side: $5.00
- Bill's Bike Tour - Rent a Flower Bike in Amsterdam: $5.00
- Self Guided Tour of A City of Trade and Tolerance: $5.24
- Amsterdam Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.28
- Amsterdam History Walking Tour: $5.87
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.40Amsterdam $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Red Light District Bar Crawl: $21
- Amsterdam Red Light Pub Crawl with Beer Hostess and 4 Shots: $28
- Amsterdam Craft Beer Brewery Tour by Bus with Tastings: $76
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl With Optional Club Entrance: $88
- Halloween Bar Crawl in Central Amsterdam: $100
- Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam is in Europe, 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Amsterdam, 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 Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam?
Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Amsterdam. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many visitors come to Amsterdam in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amsterdam this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Amsterdam during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Amsterdam 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Amsterdam for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Amsterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Amsterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 99 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Amsterdam 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam in the Winter?
Both Amsterdam and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Amsterdam because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Amsterdam can be very cold. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Amsterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Amsterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Amsterdam during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Amsterdam 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Amsterdam in the Spring?
Both Amsterdam and Kota Kinabalu during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 166 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Amsterdam. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Amsterdam 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Amsterdam and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Amsterdam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.