Which place is cheaper, Paris 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Paris?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Paris? 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 Paris?
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.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.
-
Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesParis Prices
France Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $72Paris $308
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $72, while the average daily cost in Paris is $308. 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 Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $22Paris $178
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $44Paris $356
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Paris
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Paris? 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 Paris Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $27Paris $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $75
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Kota Kinab. Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro$7.43
-
Train from Airport$10
-
Metro tickets$7.89
-
Train$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private round trip transfer from/to Paris airports: $24
- Private transfer from/to CDG, ORLY airports DISNEYLAND: $24
- Private round trip transfer from/to PARIS DISNEYLAND: $24
- McArthurGlen Paris-Giverny Designer Outlet transfer from Paris: $34
- Private One-Way Transfer: City of Paris: $38
- Private Transfer Service in Paris – Select Your Route: $40
- Private Transfer Arrival and Departure Orly Airport ORY: $44
- Private Arrival Transfer: Paris Train Station to Hotel: $45
- Paris CDG Airport Private Transfer to Paris City Center|Hotels: $45
- Paris Private Airport Transfers - Comfort Cars: $47
- Paris Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $48
- Shuttle Arrival Transfer from Paris Airport to Hotel/ Apartment: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris 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
-
Food Meals for one dayKota Kinabalu $32Paris $84
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: $143
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
-
Ice Cream$9.28
-
Breakfast$8.12
-
Breakfast for 2$34
-
Dinner on River Cruise$100
-
Dinner$66
-
Cheese$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Paris Marais Walking Food Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.24
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $65
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $67
- Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $70
- Paris Saint Germain Food Tour - Full French Meal by Do Eat Better: $75
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris: $77
- Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $77
- Paris Food Tour: $81
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $83
- Paris Theo Boat Seine River Italian Trattoria Style Dinner Cruise: $85
- 2 Hour Express Paris Centre Food Tour with 4 Tastings & Fine Wine: $88
- Paris Food Tour: Eat Like a Local with Cheeses, Wines & Secrets: $88
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.82Paris $88
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $50
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- 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
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $57
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring Tour: $80
- Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Springs Tour with Desa Dairy Farm: $130
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Louvre Entry for Two$21
-
Admission to Pantheon$5.80
-
Catacombs (2)$27
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Free Tour of the Historic Center of Paris in Spanish: $2.83
- Paris - Latin Quarter Free Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.53
- Free Perfume Museum & Opera District Tour (Tip-Based): $3.53
- Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based): $3.53
- Paris Hidden Gems: Self Guided Secret Spots Tour: $3.53
- Montmartre Walking Tour: Artists & the Soul of Paris: $3.53
- Paris Montmartre Free Walking Tour: $3.54
- Paris Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.66
- Rude Bastards Tour of Paris: $4.71
- Paris Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour: $4.71
- Central Paris Highlights Walking Tour: $4.72
- Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $5.31
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.61Paris $28
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
-
Wine$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Paris Montmartre Cheese Charcuterie Wine Tasting with Audio Tour: $29
- Paris Guided Pub Crawl with Bars Shots and Club Entry: $32
- Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $35
- Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $53
- Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $55
- Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $70
- Paris Wine Tasting & French Cheese Pairing with Sommelier: $81
- Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with a Local Cheesemonger: $81
- Paris Art of Pairing Cheese and Wine Tasting in a Cheese Cellar: $83
- Wine Tasting In Paris: $88
- Galeries Lafayette French Wine Tasting with Sommelier: $99
- Paris Biking Tour with Wine Tasting in a Hidden Cellar: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Paris, we can see that Paris 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 Paris is in Europe, 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Paris?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Paris, 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 Paris?
Paris 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 Paris in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Paris. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paris this time of year.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Paris. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Paris averages at about 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Paris. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Paris. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 241 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Paris. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Paris receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Paris 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Paris in the Autumn?
Both Paris 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, many travelers come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Paris. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Paris fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Paris during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Paris. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Paris 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Paris in the Winter?
Both Paris 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 visitors come to Paris in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Paris can get quite cold in the winter. Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Paris in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Paris fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Paris. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 62 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 Paris. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Paris 5°C (40°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Paris in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Paris. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Paris. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Paris averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Paris during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Paris. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Paris receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Paris 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Paris and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Paris | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.