Which place is cheaper, New York City 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 New York City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or New York City? 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 New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
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 New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesNew York City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70New York City $363
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or New York City? 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 New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26New York City $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $25
- Kota Kinab. Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manhattan to LGA One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $25
- JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $28
- Manhattan to JFK One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $28
- Manhattan to Newark Airport: Shared Departure Transfer: $30
- Shared transfer Newark Airport to Manhattan: $30
- Private Transfer from Manhattan to NYC Airports (JFK/EWR/LGA): $37
- Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR): $41
- Private Transfer from Cape Liberty Cruise Port to New York City: $44
- Private Transfer from New York Airport (LGA) to Manhattan Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $44
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Cape Cruise Port - Arrival Transfer: $44
- Cape Cruise Port to J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)-Departure Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $31New York City $87
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
- Kota Kinabalu Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies Tour: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $142
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $189
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Lower East Side Food Tour: $34
- New York Union Square Sweetest Food Tour: Choose Your Own Donuts: $35
- The Greenwich Village Food Tour: $39
- Private Pizza Experience (5 tastings) in Manhattan: $45
- Brooklyn's must-try Pizza Crawl experience (5 top rated slices!): $46
- Lower East Side Food Tour: Iconic Eats & NYC History Walking Tour: $51
- Homemade Pizza Party: $63
- New York City's Best Pizza tour - You be the judge!: $65
- East Village Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC: $68
- Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Food Tour: Local Eats & Iconic Views: $70
- New York Union Square Food Tour: Delicious Donuts & Sweet Treats: $70
- East Village Food Tour: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.62New York City $180
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- 2 Hour Kota Kinabalu Local Street Food and History Walking Tour: $47
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $88
- Dreamer Island Snorkeling Day Tour: $78
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $150
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- New York's Hidden Gems: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.52
- New York Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.98
- Central Park Stolen Archives: NY Exploration Game and Tour: $4.98
- The Battery: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Bowling Green Park to Stone St: $5.00
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.00
- A New York Date Night Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- New York: Central Park Walking Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- New York City Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- New York Celebrity Chef Self Guided Tour and Exploration Game: $6.34
- New York West Village Audio Tour: $6.58
- New York City Greenwich Village Haunted Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.95
- NYC Superhero Academy: Self-Guided Comic Adventure: $7.04
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.40New York City $29
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- Brooklyn Distillery Tour: $22
- NYC Bar Crawl: Games, Live Music & Underground Nightlife: $28
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
- Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
- NYC Pub Crawl & Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $34
- Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
- NYC Pub Crawl: Midtown/Times Square VIP Access & Prof Photos: $45
- Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Best of NYC Drag - Drag Bar Crawl with Drink: $49
- Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and New York City, we can see that New York City 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 New York City is in North America, 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and New York City, 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 New York City?
New York City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or New York City in the Summer?
Both New York City and Kota Kinabalu during the summer 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, the summer months attract visitors to New York City because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as New York City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and New York City averages at about 77°F (25°C).
New York City 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 more rain in July than New York City. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or New York City in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than New York City. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or New York City in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as New York City. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in New York City. Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than New York City in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than New York City. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or New York City in the Spring?
Both New York City and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to New York City in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and New York City averages at about 52°F (11°C).
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than New York City. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |
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.