Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Koh Pha Ngan $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $45. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Koh Pha Ngan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Koh Pha Ngan $46
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Koh Pha Ngan $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Ferry Ride$14
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Gas for Scooter$3.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $15Koh Pha Ngan $10
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.09
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$11
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.09
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Ice Cream$0.55
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Juice$1.64
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3 Spring Rolls$0.82
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2 Pancakes$1.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Koh Pha Ngan $17
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Koh Pha Ngan $9.89
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$7.09
When comparing the travel costs between Kota Kinabalu and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.