Which place is cheaper, Dewa Sanzan or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan? 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 Dewa Sanzan?
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.
Dewa Sanzan
Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Dewa Sanzan $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Dewa Sanzan is $65. 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 Dewa Sanzan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Dewa Sanzan $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Dewa Sanzan $56
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Dewa Sanzan
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan? 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 Dewa Sanzan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Dewa Sanzan $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan?
Prices for flights to both Dewa Sanzan 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 $15Dewa Sanzan $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Private Kinabalu Night Tour with Cultural Show and Dinner: $62
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $86
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Dewa Sanzan $9.23
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
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour: $149
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $75
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu River White Water Rafting Tour: $131
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Full Day River Rafting with ATV Adventure in Kiulu : $293
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $140
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
Tours and Activities in Dewa Sanzan
For Dewa Sanzan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tsuruoka & Dewa-Sanzan Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $228
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Dewa Sanzan $7.27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Dewa Sanzan, we can see that Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan?
Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?
Both Dewa Sanzan and Kota Kinabalu during the summer 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, many travelers come to Dewa Sanzan for the hiking.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 124 hours of full sun.
Dewa Sanzan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Dewa Sanzan 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Dewa Sanzan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dewa Sanzan in the autumn for the hiking trails.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Dewa Sanzan 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Dewa Sanzan for the museums and the cuisine during these months.
Dewa Sanzan can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about -1°C (30°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dewa Sanzan receives 149 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in January than Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Dewa Sanzan -1°C (30°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?
Both Dewa Sanzan and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Dewa Sanzan during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Dewa Sanzan receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Dewa Sanzan 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Dewa Sanzan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 151 mm (6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 231 mm (9.1 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.