Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Quepos? 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Quepos $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Quepos $9.55
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 Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $30Quepos $51
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
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Quepos $17
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 Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with Beach Time: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos is in Central 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Quepos?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Quepos in the Summer?
Both Quepos 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
Quepos 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 Quepos. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. Quepos 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 Quepos. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Quepos in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Quepos. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos 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. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Quepos is December to April. The hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Quepos. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. 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 Quepos during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.