Which place is cheaper, Perth or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Perth?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Perth? 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 Perth?
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.
Perth
Capital of Western Australia, Perth is a city that sits where the Swan River meets the sea, and given its ocean side location there is plenty to see and do on the water and beyond. Spend a day on Perth's sandy beaches or get lost in its parks and gardens, sail down the river or enjoy the city's history and culture visiting museums and historic sites, shopping, dining, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Perth $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Perth is $130. 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 Perth in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Perth $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Perth $150
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Perth
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Perth? 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 Perth Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Perth $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- 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
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Perth
Also for Perth, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth Airport(PER): $33
- Perth city to Perth Airport (PER) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Perth City Hotels to Fremantle Cruise Port : $33
- Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth city hotels: $33
- Hillarys Boat Harbour: Rottnest Island Ferry Transfer: $59
- Perth Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Perth city: $67
- Departure Private Transfer: Perth City to Perth Airport PER in Business Car: $76
- One Way Flight Transfer to or from Rottnest Island: $163
- Rottnest Island Flight Transfer with Return Ferry: $219
- Ballooning in the Avon Valley plus Transfer from Perth : $258
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Perth?
Prices for flights to both Perth 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 $15Perth $36
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 Perth
For Perth, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hands on Cooking Class or Cooking Workshop Experience: $69
- American BBQ Food Tour: $78
- Half-Day Low and Slow BBQ Food Tour in Perth: $79
- Swan River Dinner Cruise with Beverages: $111
- Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise: $112
- From Pinnacles Sunset and Stargazing Tour with Dinner: $114
- Pinnacles Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Experience a Small Group Tour: $116
- Pinnacle Desert Sunset and Stargazing with Dinner: $140
- The 10 Tastings of Perth With Locals: Private Food Tour : $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Perth $14
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour: $149
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $75
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu River White Water Rafting Tour: $131
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Full Day River Rafting with ATV Adventure in Kiulu : $293
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $140
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
Tours and Activities in Perth
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Perth.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $3.74
- City Exploration Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
- Perth Bell Tower Entry Ticket and Bell Chiming Experience: $12
- Skip the Line: Perth Video Game Console Museum Ticket: $12
- Perth Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- The Perth Mint Gold Tour: $16
- Fabulous Fremantle Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Optus Stadium Guided Tour: $18
- The Optus Stadium Tour: $18
- The Premium Anzac Bell Tour at the Bell Tower: $21
- AQWA Aquarium of Western Australia Entry Tickets: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Perth $7.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Perth
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Perth:
- Little Creatures Brewery Tours : $17
- Afternoon Swan Valley Wine Tasting with Transportation: $62
- Swan Valley: Half-Day Wine Tour From Perth: $62
- Half Day Swan Valley Wine Tour: $63
- Swan Valley Half Day Wine Tour from Perth: $65
- Half-Day Swan Valley Wine Tour with Tastings - From Perth: $69
- Swan Valley: Out for the Afternoon Wine Tasting with Lunch: $75
- Small-Group Gin Distillery Tour in Perth: $89
- Swan Valley: Full-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $91
- From Swan Valley Winery & Brewery Day Tour With Lunch: $108
- Swan River Kayaking Tour with Dining and Wine Tasting: $108
- Half-Day Swan Valley Winery & Brewery: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Perth, we can see that Perth 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 Perth 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 Perth would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Perth 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 Perth Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Perth?
Perth has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Perth, 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 Perth?
Perth 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 Perth in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Perth. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Perth for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Perth. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Perth averages at about 25°C (76°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Perth. 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 Perthin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Perth receives 331 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Perthin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Perth receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Perth 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Perth in the Autumn?
Both Perth 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 visitors come to Perth in the autumn for the shopping scene.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Perthin April. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Perth fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Perth. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Perth during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Perth receives 219 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Perthin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Perth receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Perth 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Perth in the Winter?
Both Perth 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, most visitors come to Perth for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Perth in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Perth fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in July.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Perthin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Perth receives 166 hours of full sun.
Perth 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 less rain in January than Perthin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Perth receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Perth 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Perth in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Perth. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Perth because of the beaches.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Perth. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Perth averages at about 17°C (62°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Perth this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Perth during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Perth receives 273 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 Perthin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Perth receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Perth 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Perth and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Perth | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 8 mm (0.3 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.