Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Khao Sok National Park? 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.
In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.
Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.
You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.
To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.
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 Khao Sok National Park is $88. 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 Khao Sok National Park in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Khao Sok National Park? 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 Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Both Khao Sok National Park 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. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Khao Sok National Park 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.
Khao Sok National Park 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 around the same amount of rain in October as Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. 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 Khao Sok National Park. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Kota Kinabalu | Khao Sok National Park | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |