Which place is cheaper, Salzburg 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 Salzburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg? 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 Salzburg?
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.
Salzburg
Most people know of Salzburg from its roll in the infamous movie "The Sound of Music." Every child who fell in love with this movie knows the gazebo scene in the rain, or could sing "My Favorite Things" as they skip down the Salzach River, but once you get past the obvious cliches, you can see that Salzburg is a city with a lot of depth and culture aside from the movie.
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 in Austria, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesSalzburg Prices
Austria Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $69Salzburg $214
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $69, while the average daily cost in Salzburg is $214. 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 Salzburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Salzburg $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Salzburg $212
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Salzburg
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg? 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 Salzburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Salzburg $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $24
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $25
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salzburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salzburg:
- Private Transfer between Salzburg Airport and Salzburg City: $70
- Departure Private Transfers: Salzburg to Salzburg Airport SZG in Business Car: $97
- Salzburg Airport Transfers : Salzburg Airport SZG to Salzburg in Luxury Van: $99
- Salzburg Airport Transfers : Salzburg to Salzburg Airport SZG in Luxury Van: $99
- Arrival Private Transfers: Salzburg Airport SZG to Salzburg in Luxury Van: $99
- Departure Private Transfers: Salzburg to Salzburg Airport SZG in Luxury Van: $99
- Airport Transfer: Salzburg Airport SZG to Salzburg by Luxury Car: $116
- Salzburg Airport Transfers : Salzburg to Salzburg Airport SZG in Luxury Car: $116
- Private Transfer From Salzburg To Zell am See, Innsbruck or Kitzbuhel: $123
- Salzburg Airport to Kitzbühel Private Ski Transfer: $143
- Salzburg Airport to Zell am See Private Ski Transfer: $143
- Salzburg Airport to Saalbach Hinterglemm Private Ski Transfer: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg?
Prices for flights to both Salzburg 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 $30Salzburg $83
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: $32
- 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: $142
Typical Food Prices in Salzburg
Some typical examples of dining costs in Salzburg are as follows:
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Lunch Salad$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salzburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salzburg.
- Apple Strudel & Salzburg Prezel Cooking Class Experience & Lunch: $70
- Austrian Apple Strudel Cooking Class including Lunch in Salzburg: $70
- Salzburg Christmas Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Lesson: $76
- Best of Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $98
- Apple Strudel & Prezel Cooking Class incl. Dinner & Music: $99
- Mozart Dinner Concert in Salzburg: $99
- Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concert with Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $99
- Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Salzburg with River Cruise: $132
- Best of Mozart Concert and GOLDEN VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $156
- Original Sound of Music Tour & Edelweiss Cooking Class Salzburg: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.54Salzburg $34
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan River Cruise, City Tour & Fireflies: $27
- Sabah Mali-Mali Garden Spa Massage Experience: $27
- Pulau Sapi & Manukan Sabah Shared Activity Adventure: $43
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Mangrove Kayaking Experience in Borneo: $47
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
Tours and Activities in Salzburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salzburg are as follows:
- Salzburg City Self-Guided Audio Tour With 100 Captivating Stories: $3.49
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Salzburg with Audio Guide: $5.83
- Kaprun Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.84
- Bad Ischl Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.34
- Salzburg Audio Guided Walking Tour 1h45 and 24 reviews: $6.88
- Salzburg Music, Myths and Baroque Beauty Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Salzburg Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.18
- Salzburg Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- Sightseeing with the Sound of Music: A Salzburg Audio Tour: $12
- Introducing A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Stiegl Brauwelt Museum ticket: $16
- Nuns and Nazis Walking Tour in Salzburg: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.30Salzburg $30
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salzburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salzburg:
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Beer$4.29
Sample the Local Flavors in Salzburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salzburg:
- Guided Wine Tasting in a Hidden Wine Bar: $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Salzburg, we can see that Salzburg 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 Salzburg 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 Salzburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salzburg 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 Salzburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Salzburg. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Salzburg, 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 Salzburg?
Salzburg 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 Salzburg in the Summer?
Both Salzburg and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Salzburg in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Salzburg in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Salzburg fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Salzburg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Salzburg during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Salzburg receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Salzburg 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg in the Autumn?
Both Salzburg and Kota Kinabalu during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Salzburg for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Salzburg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Salzburg averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Salzburg receives 108 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Salzburg 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Salzburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Salzburg because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Salzburg can be very cold. In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Salzburg. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Salzburg fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Salzburg during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Salzburg receives 44 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Salzburg -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Salzburg in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Salzburg this time of year.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Salzburg in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Salzburg fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Salzburg receives 155 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Salzburg. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Salzburg 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Salzburg and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Salzburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 93 mm (3.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.