Which place is cheaper, Beijing 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 Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Beijing? 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 Beijing?
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.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesBeijing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70Beijing $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $98. 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 Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Beijing $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Beijing $86
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Beijing
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Beijing? 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 Beijing Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Beijing $8.39
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: $36
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $25
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport (BKI) Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $24
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$5.12
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Train from Airport for Two$7.51
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Taxi to Hotel$9.01
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2 Metro Passes$2.40
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Metro$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private Transfers for City, Suburbs & Airport/Train: $1.46
- Beijing Private Airport Transfer Hotel or Train Station Luxury: $5.00
- Datong:Hanging Temple Entry Ticket with Optional Transfer Service: $6.00
- Shilinxia Glass Platform Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour & 798: $6.00
- Juyongguan Great Wall Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour & Ming Tomb: $8.00
- Ming Tombs Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided &Transfer Service: $8.20
- Summer Palace Entry Ticket with Optional Guide/ Transfer Service: $8.50
- Juyongguan Great Wall Entrance Ticket with Guide&Transfer Service: $9.90
- Badaling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer & Guide Service: $10
- Jinshanling Great Wall Ticket, Transfer, Guided Tour: $13
- Private Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour w/ Optional Guide/Transfer: $15
- From Mutianyu Great Wall Transfer with Pick-Up: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing 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 $31Beijing $36
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
- Klias River Dinner Cruise with Firefly Spotting: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $76
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $90
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $141
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $169
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.90
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Hot Pot Dinner$7.51
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$3.00
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Watermelon$2.10
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$18
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Two Popsicles$0.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef: $20
- Gastronomic Gems of Beijing Shared Walking Food Tour: $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $25
- Beijing Market Tour and Cooking Class with an Executive Chef: $36
- Beijing Food Tour: $40
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $45
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $54
- Beijing Chinese Home Cooking Class with Local Host: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.62Beijing $26
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: $27
- Guided City Walking Historical & Cultural Tour with Tea Time: $30
- Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu: $38
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- 2 Hour Kota Kinabalu Local Street Food and History Walking Tour: $47
- 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
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$9.01
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Two Opera Tickets$64
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$11
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Forbidden City (for 2)$18
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Forbidden City Tickets$18
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$12
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Jingshan Park QR Ticket with 4 Language Audio Guide: $2.50
- Entrance Tickets: Coal Hill Park, Beihai Park & Drum-Bell Towers: $2.50
- Capital Museum tour includes Ticket: $2.78
- Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket: $2.90
- Tian’anmenSquare or Forbidden City Online Ticket Booking: $2.92
- Forbidden City/ Palace Museum & Tiananmen Sq. Ticket: $2.99
- Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours: $3.00
- Jingshan Park Ticket - Panoramic Forbidden City View: $3.00
- Tiananmen Square Ticket Booking: $3.10
- Beijing:Tiananmen Square tickets with guide(optional): $3.19
- Beijing Jingshan Park Entry Ticket: $3.60
- Forbidden City Walking Guided Tour w/ Entry Tickets: $3.60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.40Beijing $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Tipsy Travel: Beijing Local Food and Bar Crawl night in Hutong: $138
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $199
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Beijing, we can see that Beijing is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Beijing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beijing 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 Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Beijing, 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 Beijing?
Beijing 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 Beijing in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Beijing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Beijing in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.
Beijing receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Beijing. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Beijing 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Beijing in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Beijing. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (56°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Beijing. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Beijing 14°C (56°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Beijing in the Winter?
Both Beijing 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).
It's quite sunny in Beijing. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Beijing. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Beijing -4°C (26°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Beijing in the Spring?
Both Beijing 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. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Beijing in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beijing. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 247 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 Beijing. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Beijing 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Beijing and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Beijing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.