Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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.
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Nadi (Port Denarau) $164
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $164. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Nadi (Port Denarau) $103
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Nadi (Port Denarau) $206
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Nadi (Port Denarau)
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.74
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Private Transfer-Nadi International Airport to Hotels : $6.76
- Private Transfer Nadi Airport to or from Hotel or Resort: $8.22
- Shared Shuttle Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport/ Port to Hotel: $9.01
- Shared Transfer To Nadi Airport from Denarau Resorts: $9.01
- Private Shuttle Transfer to Nadi International Airport: $9.01
- Private Departure Transfer From Your Hotel To Nadi Airport (cfc approved): $9.14
- Private Departure Transfer To Nadi Airport From Your Hotel: $9.14
- Shared Shuttle Departure Transfers - Denarau,Wailoaloa & Nadi to Nadi Airport: $11
- Private Transfer from Nadi Intl Airport to Sheraton Fiji Resort : $11
- Private Departure Transfer to Nadi Airport from Your Hotel: $12
- Denarau Hotels to Nadi Airport (Private Departure Transfer): $14
- CFC APPROVED Private Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport to All Denarau Hotels: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 $15Nadi (Port Denarau) $39
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nadi (Port Denarau).
- Robinson Crusoe Sunset Cruise Including Dinner, Cultural Show & Transfers: $121
- Super Saver Combo: Tivua Island Day Cruise + Sunset Dinner Cruise in Fiji: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Nadi (Port Denarau) $32
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 Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- Nadi Tour- Garden of the Sleeping Giant , Temple & Mud Pool Combo: $46
- The Amazing Highlights of Nadi and Veseisei ( Private Tour ) : $50
- Skip the Line: Big Bula Waterpark Full Day Ticket: $51
- Island Adventurers Kid's Show Tickets: $52
- Sabeto Waterfall Tour (Nadi): $58
- Finding Nemo - Half Day Cruise to South Sea Island: $58
- Nadi Must Do Sights Tour Combo: $59
- Fijian Secret Tour: $63
- Nadi Sightseeing Including Viseisei Lookout, Village Tour, Garden & Temple Tour: $69
- Great Taste of Fiji Sightseeing Adventure: $70
- Half Day Sightseeing - Wonders of Nadi Tour: $72
- Nadi Sightseeing & Mud Pool Tour: $76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Nadi (Port Denarau) $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.
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.