Which place is cheaper, Shijiazhuang or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang? 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 Shijiazhuang?
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.
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital city of Hebei Province in China. It is a fairly young city, acting as the regional transport hub and economic center, though there are a few sights worth seeing. The city is also the largest pharmaceutical hub in China, as well as an important center for textile, IT, manufacturing, and chemical industries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Shijiazhuang $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Shijiazhuang is $77. 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 Shijiazhuang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Shijiazhuang $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Shijiazhuang $88
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Shijiazhuang
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang? 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 $22Shijiazhuang $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang?
Prices for flights to both Shijiazhuang 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 $15Shijiazhuang $18
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
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $144
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Shijiazhuang $4.34
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Sunset Charter Cruise Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Shijiazhuang $5.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Shijiazhuang, we can see that Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang?
Shijiazhuang has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Shijiazhuang, 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 Shijiazhuang?
Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Shijiazhuang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Shijiazhuang. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Shijiazhuang fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Shijiazhuang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Shijiazhuang. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Shijiazhuang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Shijiazhuang. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Shijiazhuang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Shijiazhuang fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Shijiazhuang. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Shijiazhuang 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang in the Winter?
Both Shijiazhuang and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Shijiazhuang in the winter. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Shijiazhuang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Shijiazhuang averages at about -2°C (29°F).
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Shijiazhuang. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Shijiazhuang -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Shijiazhuang in the Spring?
Both Shijiazhuang and Kota Kinabalu during the spring 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 April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Shijiazhuang. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Shijiazhuang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Shijiazhuang. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Shijiazhuang receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Shijiazhuang 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Shijiazhuang and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Shijiazhuang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.