Which place is cheaper, Kingston 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 Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Kingston? 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 Kingston?
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.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesKingston Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Kingston $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $123. 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 Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Kingston $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Kingston $124
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Kingston? 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 Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Kingston $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $13
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Kingston Airport: One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston: $19
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $24
- Private Transfer from Kingston's Airport: $32
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $37
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Montego Bay: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston 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 $30Kingston $44
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: $33
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $95
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Kingston $12
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan Proboscis and Fireflies Cruise Tour: $32
- Sail and Catch Boat fishing Tour of the Coast of Kota Kinabalu: $41
- Night Glow Stand Up Paddle Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $44
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Mangrove Kayaking Experience in Borneo: $47
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $54
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Pulau Sapi & Manukan Sabah Shared Activity Adventure: $57
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Art Walk Sunday Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $9.78
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
- Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Mural Tours in the Downtown Kingston Art District, Jamaica: $40
- Reggae Legend - Bob Marley Museum Tour Tickets: $41
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios : $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
- Private Bob Marley Tour Experience: $65
- Kingston City Guided Tour - Classic: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Kingston $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Kingston, we can see that Kingston 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 Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston 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 Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Kingston?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Kingston, 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 Kingston?
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.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Kingston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Kingston. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Kingston. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kingston. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Kingston. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston 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. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Kingston. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Kingston. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Kingston. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kingston. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.