Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang?
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.
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Pyeongchang $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $114. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Pyeongchang $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Pyeongchang $124
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Pyeongchang
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $22Pyeongchang $25
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): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang?
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 $15Pyeongchang $27
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Pyeongchang $51
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Pyeongchang $8.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang?
Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang in the Summer?
Both Pyeongchang 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.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun.
Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Pyeongchang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pyeongchang during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 185 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 190 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Pyeongchang in the Spring?
Both Pyeongchang 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.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Pyeongchang. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Pyeongchang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 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.