Which place is cheaper, Qingdao 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 Qingdao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao? 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 Qingdao?
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.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesQingdao Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Qingdao $73
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $73. 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 Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Qingdao $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Qingdao $54
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Qingdao $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $53
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $54
- Private Qingdao Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $80
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao 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 $30Qingdao $35
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
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $95
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Qingdao $20
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
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- 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
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Island Hopping Tour From Kota Kinabalu (2 island): $90
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Qingdao After Dark: 4-Hour Illumination Tour with Options: $150
- Half Day Tour and Trek to Fushan Mountain: $170
- Private Qingdao highlights city tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- German Era Tour of Old Town Qingdao with Lunch and Beer Museum: $200
- Alternative City Tour with Navy Museum, Beer Street and TV Tower, Lunch Included: $200
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Qingdao $14
When comparing the travel costs between Kota Kinabalu and Qingdao, we can see that Qingdao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Qingdao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Qingdao, 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 Qingdao?
Qingdao 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 Qingdao in the Summer?
Both Qingdao 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.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Qingdao in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Qingdao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 183 hours of full sun.
Qingdao 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 Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Qingdao averages at about 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Qingdao this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Qingdao during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 220 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Qingdao can be very cold. In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 185 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Qingdao -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Qingdao in the Spring?
Both Qingdao 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.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Qingdao in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Qingdao fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Qingdao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Qingdao during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 224 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Qingdao 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Qingdao and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Qingdao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.