Which place is cheaper, Gold Coast or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast? 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 Gold Coast?
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.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier destinations. Famous for gorgeous beaches, warm weather, watersports, and plenty of activities for all ages, millions of tourists from Australia as well as everywhere in the world flock to this region every year. With beaches, national parks, theme parks, shopping and dining, nice resorts, boating, fishing, diving, theme parks and more, the Gold Coast offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Gold Coast $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Gold Coast $55
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Gold Coast $110
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Gold Coast
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Gold Coast $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gold Coast
Also for Gold Coast, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Airport Arrival Shared Transfer: $21
- Airport to Hotel Return Transfer: $21
- Movie World To Brisbane Hotel One Way Transfer: $26
- Gold Coast Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Gold Coast: $73
- Departure Private Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Business Car: $98
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast in Business Car: $98
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast in Business Car: $98
- Australia Zoo Ticket and Roundtrip Transfer: $101
- Tangalooma Beach Day Cruise with Bus Transfers: $114
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast in Luxury Van: $126
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Luxury Van: $126
- Departure Private Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Luxury Van: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast?
Prices for flights to both Gold Coast 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 dayKota Kinabalu $15Gold Coast $27
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
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $144
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gold Coast
For Gold Coast, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner & Show: $72
- Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $79
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Gold Coast $19
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 : $292
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $77
Tours and Activities in Gold Coast
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gold Coast.
- Spring Brook National Park Self Guided Driving Tour: $15
- SkyPoint Observation Deck Ticket: $24
- Surfers Paradise: IceBar Entry Ticket and Drink: $29
- Surfer's Paradise Sightseeing Cruise: $29
- Surfers Paradise and Midday River Cruise: $32
- Surfers Paradise: Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise 4pm: $32
- Gold Coast Morning Tea Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $32
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Cruise: $32
- City Lights Cruise: $36
- Aquaduck City Tour and River Cruise: $36
- Gold Coast Sunset River Cruise: $36
- Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour: $36
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Gold Coast $5.19
Sample the Local Flavors in Gold Coast
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gold Coast:
- Tamborine Mountain: Wine Tasting Tour with 2-Course Lunch: $124
- Full-Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Gold Coast : $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Gold Coast, we can see that Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast is in Pacific, 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 Gold Coast would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast?
Gold Coast has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Gold Coast, 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 Gold Coast?
Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Gold Coast. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Gold Coast this time of year.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Gold Coast in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Gold Coast fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gold Coast. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Gold Coastin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 256 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Gold Coast. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Gold Coastin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Gold Coast 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast in the Autumn?
Both Gold Coast and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Gold Coast for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Gold Coast. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Gold Coast averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Gold Coast. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Gold Coast. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Gold Coastin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Gold Coast 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast in the Winter?
Both Gold Coast and Kota Kinabalu during the winter 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 visitors come to Gold Coast in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Gold Coastin July. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Gold Coast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In Gold Coast, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Gold Coastin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 226 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Gold Coastin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Gold Coast 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gold Coast in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Gold Coast. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, most visitors come to Gold Coast for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Gold Coast in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Gold Coast fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gold Coast this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
Gold Coast receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Gold Coastin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Gold Coast 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Gold Coast and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Gold Coast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.