Which place is cheaper, Hefei or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Hefei? 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.
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.
While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to China, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in China.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Hefei 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 Hefei in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Hefei? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
Prices for flights to both Hefei 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Hefei, we can see that Hefei 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 Hefei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hefei 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 Hefei Expensive?.
Hefei has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Hefei, 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.
Hefei has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Hefei. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Hefei. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Hefei fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Hefei receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Hefei. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Hefei. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Hefei in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Hefei fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Hefei. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Hefei and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
Hefei can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Hefei. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Hefei averages at about 3°C (38°F).
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Hefei. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Hefei and Kota Kinabalu during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Hefei. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Hefei fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Hefei. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Kota Kinabalu | Hefei | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |