Which place is cheaper, Kobe or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Kobe? 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.
Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is a port city in Japan also considered to be one of the country's most attractive. Though it was devastated by a historic earthquake in 1995, known locally as the Great Hanshin Earthquake, Kobe has fully recovered to its cosmopolitan splendor with plenty for visitors to see and do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.
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 Kobe is $103. 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 Kobe in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Kobe? 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:
Also for Kobe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Kobe 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.
For Kobe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kobe.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kobe:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Kobe, we can see that Kobe 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 Kobe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kobe 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 Kobe Expensive?.
Kobe has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Kobe, 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.
Kobe 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 brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Kobe. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Kobe because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Kobe in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Kobe fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Kobe. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kobe receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kobe. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Kobe. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Kobe and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kobe this time of year.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Kobe. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Kobe averages at about 18°C (65°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Kobe during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Kobe receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kobe. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Kobe. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Kobe and Kota Kinabalu during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kobe for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Kobe. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Kobe fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Kobe. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kobe receives 140 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Kobe. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Kobe. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kobe in the spring for the activities around the city.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Kobe in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Kobe fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Kobe during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Kobe receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kobe receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives less rain than Kobe. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Kobe receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Kota Kinabalu | Kobe | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.5 in) |
Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |