Which place is cheaper, Antwerp 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 Antwerp?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp? 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 Antwerp?
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.
Antwerp
Antwerp is a very popular tourist destination in Belgium. It's a lovely city in the region of Flanders and its people are known for their friendly, open and welcoming personalities. It's a very relaxed and low stress city, making it an excellent place to spend a few days in the midst of a hectic trip. The city itself is known to have a very high standard of living and a great quality of life. Antwerp is also an economic center in Belgium, because of its importance in the diamond trade. It is known as the "world's leading diamond city" with about seventy percent of all diamonds traded through Antwerp.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Belgium, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Brussels.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesAntwerp Prices
Belgium Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70Antwerp $173
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in Antwerp is $173. 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 Antwerp in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Antwerp $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Antwerp $162
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Antwerp
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp? 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 Antwerp Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Antwerp $14
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 Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $25
- 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 Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antwerp
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antwerp:
- Belgium: Private Airport Transfer Service: $105
- Private Arrival Transfer from Antwerp to Brussels By luxury car: $175
- Private Departure Transfer from Antwerp to Brussels By luxury car: $187
- Antwerp Shuttle Transfer Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 to 8 Places): $188
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Antwerp City by Business Car: $270
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp?
Prices for flights to both Antwerp 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 $31Antwerp $78
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
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.62Antwerp $9.37
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
- Kota Kinabalu 3 Hour Coastal Fishing and Island Tour: $38
- Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu: $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
Tours and Activities in Antwerp
Here are a few actual costs in Antwerp for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Antwerp Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $2.33
- Historical Walking Tour in the Old City: $3.48
- Historical Walking Tour in Antwerp Old City: $3.51
- Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Antwerp: $3.51
- Tasting Tour: A Taste of Antwerp (Fries, Waffles, Beer & More): $3.52
- Antwerp Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.88
- Antwerp Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self Guided Audio Tour: $4.70
- Antwerp Audio guided walking tour 2h15 and 21 audio commentary: $6.93
- Antwerp Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $7.62
- Hidden Antwerp Self Guided Tour: History, Art and Fashion: $15
- Jewish Neighbourhood Guided Walking Tour: $23
- Antwerpen Hop-on Hop-off-tours: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.40Antwerp $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Antwerp
Also in Antwerp, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- City Brewery De Koninck Interactive Tour: $19
- Antwerp Pub Crawl: $70
- Wine Tasting Gold in Antwerp: $79
- Pub Crawl in the Historical City: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Antwerp, we can see that Antwerp 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 Antwerp 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 Antwerp would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antwerp 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 Antwerp Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp?
Antwerp has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Antwerp, 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 Antwerp?
Antwerp 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 Antwerp in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Antwerp. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Antwerp for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Antwerp. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Antwerp fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Antwerp 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 Antwerp during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 202 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 Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Antwerp 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Antwerp in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Antwerp in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Antwerp fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 105 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Antwerp 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp in the Winter?
Both Antwerp 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, most visitors come to Antwerp for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Antwerp can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Antwerp. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Antwerp averages at about 3°C (38°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Antwerp during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Antwerp 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Antwerp in the Spring?
Both Antwerp 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 spring months attract visitors to Antwerp because of the activities around the city.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Antwerp. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Antwerp fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 158 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 Antwerp. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Antwerp 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Antwerp and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Antwerp | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.