Which place is cheaper, Santiago 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 Santiago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Santiago? 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 Santiago?
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.
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.
Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesSantiago Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Santiago $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Santiago is $150. 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 Santiago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Santiago $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Santiago $218
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Santiago
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Santiago? 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 Santiago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Santiago $5.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $13
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
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Metro Ride$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Santiago Airport (SCL) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $18
- Santiago de Chile Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Official Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $27
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Santiago de Chile: $40
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Farellones Full Day Roundtrip Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Airport to Santiago, Chile : $43
- Santiago Int Airport (SCL) to Santiago - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Santiago to Santiago Airport (SCL) - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $45
- Transfer to Snowy Valley fullday for skiers : $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Santiago?
Prices for flights to both Santiago 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 $30Santiago $23
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 Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
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Empanada$1.88
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Hamburger$2.50
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Dinner$26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Bali Hai Dinner & Show, Transport and Wine refill: $106
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
- Private Market Tour and Traditional Chilean Cooking Class in a Local Home: $122
- San Cristobal Hill Night Tour with Dinner Show: $129
- Bali Hai Polynesian Dinner Show with Transfer: $130
- Private Night City Tour with San Cristobal Hill And Dinner Show: $181
- Santiago Chilean and Peruvian Cooking Class with a Local Carol: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Santiago $47
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan Proboscis and Fireflies Cruise Tour: $32
- Sail and Catch Boat fishing Tour of the Coast of Kota Kinabalu: $41
- Night Glow Stand Up Paddle Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $44
- 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
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $54
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Pulau Sapi & Manukan Sabah Shared Activity Adventure: $57
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Official Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago: $9.00
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino Admission Ticket: $17
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- A Fabulous Walking tour by the Old Santiago of Chile -small group: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Santiago $8.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $70
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $79
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with wine tasting in Casablanca: $79
- Inca Lagoon and Vineyard Visit with Wine Tasting: $80
- Half Day Trip to Cousiño Macul Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Half Day Trip to Concha y Toro Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $87
- Maipo Valley Wine Tour with 4 vineyards from Santiago.: $89
- Kross Brewery Tour: A Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Santiago, we can see that Santiago 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 Santiago is in South 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 Santiago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santiago 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 Santiago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Santiago?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Santiago, 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 Santiago?
Santiago 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 Santiago in the Summer?
Both Santiago 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.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Santiagoin January. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Santiagoin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Santiago 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Santiago in the Autumn?
Both Santiago 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.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Santiago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Santiagoin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Santiago in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Santiago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Santiago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Santiago averages at about 9°C (48°F)in July.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Santiagoin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Santiago 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Santiago in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Santiago. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Santiagoin October. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Santiago fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Santiagoin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Santiago receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Santiago 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Santiago and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Santiago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 20°C (68°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.