Which place is cheaper, David 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 David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or David? 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 David?
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.
David
In the Pacific West of Panama, David is the capital city of Chiriqui province. The city's population of almost 150,000 is among the wealthiest in the country. There is a well established middle class and unemployment remains low in the area. The area has grown rapidly in recent years with growing commercial and banking sectors. The city is well connected to the rest of the country by the Pan American Highway.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in David is $39. 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 David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42David $24
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and David
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or David? 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 David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $25
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or David?
Prices for flights to both David 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 $31David $17
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
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $76
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $96
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $192
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.70David $4.37
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
- 2 Hour Kota Kinabalu Local Street Food and History Walking Tour: $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: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.48David -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and David, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kota Kinabalu is in Asia and David is in Central America, 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 David would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in David 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 Kota Kinabalu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kota Kinabalu than you might in David.
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 David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or David?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and David, 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.
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.