Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Katoomba $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $134. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Katoomba $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Katoomba $154
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Katoomba $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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 $15Katoomba $17
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 $5.67Katoomba $53
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Sunset E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $32
- Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $37
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
- Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park: $83
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $97
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $98
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $107
- Small-Group Blue Mountains Tour with Bush Walks and Featherdale Wildlife Park: $116
- 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $129
- Truffle Hunt and Taste Experience in Oberon, NSW Australia: $146
- Private Blue Mountains Rainforest and Waterfalls SUV Tour: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Katoomba, 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 Katoomba?
Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the Summer?
Both Katoomba and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba averages at about 24°C (74°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Katoomba. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Katoombain January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Katoomba 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba in the Autumn?
Both Katoomba and Kota Kinabalu during the autumn 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, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Katoombain April. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain April. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Katoombain April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Katoomba 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Katoomba. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Katoomba in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Katoomba fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Katoombain July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Katoomba 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Katoomba in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Katoomba. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Katoomba in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Katoomba averages at about 18°C (64°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain October. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Katoombain October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Katoomba 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Katoomba and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Katoomba | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 42 mm (1.6 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) | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 70 mm (2.8 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.