A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kota Kinabalu vs. Dali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Dali?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dali? 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 Dali?

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.

Dali

Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Dali 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Dali is $62. 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 Dali in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kota Kinabalu $21
    Dali $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kota Kinabalu $42
    Dali $34
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Dali

Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Dali? 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.

Hotels in Kota Kinabalu


Hotels in Dali


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kota Kinabalu $25
    Dali $9.34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:

  • Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
  • Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
  • Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
  • Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
  • Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
  • Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
  • Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
  • Kota Kinabalu(BKI): Private Transfer to City Center: $14
  • Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
  • Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:


  • Local Bus
    $0.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali

Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Dali?

Prices for flights to both Dali 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kota Kinabalu $30
    Dali $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.

  • Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $29
  • Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
  • Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
  • Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
  • Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
  • Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $95
  • North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
  • Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
  • Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187

Typical Food Prices in Dali

For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $4.49
  • Breakfast
    $3.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali

For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kota Kinabalu $6.43
    Dali $18

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
  • Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
  • Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Optional Ticket: $143
  • Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
  • Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
  • Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
  • From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
  • Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
  • Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
  • Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
  • Island Hopping Tour From Kota Kinabalu (2 island): $90
  • Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135

Tours and Activities in Dali

For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $71
  • Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
  • Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $87
  • Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $87
  • Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
  • Shaxi Ancient Town Private Tour: $99
  • Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
  • Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
  • Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $190
  • 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
  • Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
  • 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kota Kinabalu $7.18
    Dali $11


When comparing the travel costs between Kota Kinabalu and Dali, 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 Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Dali?

Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Dali, 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.