Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg? 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 Gothenburg?
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.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesGothenburg Prices
Sweden Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70Gothenburg $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is $137. 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 Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Gothenburg $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Gothenburg $88
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg? 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 Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Gothenburg $20
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: $24
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $24
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport (BKI) Private Transfer: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $16
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $16
- Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $76
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $85
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $110
- Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $119
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $163
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $206
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg 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 $31Gothenburg $72
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: $75
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $91
- 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: $140
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $168
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.62Gothenburg $17
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- 2 Hour Kota Kinabalu Local Street Food and History Walking Tour: $47
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Bongawan Rivercruise a Proboscis Monkey and Fireflies: $78
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- 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
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $88
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $57
- Full Day JomTour! Memorable Experience in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: $94
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $150
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Self-Guided Tour in Gothenburg With 100 Audio Stories: $3.41
- Gothenburg Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $11
- Gothenburg Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $17
- Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre Admission Ticket: $17
- Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $17
- World of Volvo Exhibition Entry Ticket: $20
- Gothenburg Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $23
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $23
- Paradox Museum Entry Ticket: $25
- Gothenburg Universeum Ticket - Aquarium, Science, Wildlife, Zoo: $25
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $27
- The Paddan Sightseeing Boat Tour: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.40Gothenburg $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Gothenburg, we can see that Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg is in Europe, 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 Gothenburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg?
Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg 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.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Gothenburg in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Gothenburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 9°C (47°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Gothenburg in the Spring?
Both Gothenburg 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.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Gothenburg in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Gothenburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.