Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Siem Reap? 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 Siem Reap?
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.
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
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 from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesSiem Reap Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $64Siem Reap $93
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $64, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $93. 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 Siem Reap in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $19Siem Reap $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $38Siem Reap $104
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Siem Reap
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Siem Reap? 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 Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $24Siem Reap $8.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan Overland Transfer: $106
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $13
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $75
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $116
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $106
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $116
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $106
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$13
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Bike Rentals$1.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Round-Trip Transfer: Between Airport and Siem Reap City: $8.45
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $9.00
- Share One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $10
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $12
- Siem Reap Airport (SAI): Transfer to/from Siem Reap Hotel: $13
- Tonle Sap Floating Village & Lotus Farm&Transfers: $19
- Siem Reap Airport Transfer to/from Siem Reap by Private Car: $20
- Kompong Phluk Floating Village with Transfers: $20
- The Circus Performance Ticket 2 ways transfer: $22
- Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise with Transfers: $23
- Siem Reap International Airport Transfer (SIA): $24
- Siem Reap Angkor: Airport Transfer or Pick-Up: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Siem Reap?
Prices for flights to both Siem Reap 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 $28Siem Reap $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $70
- Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $90
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $91
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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Breakfast for Two$5.61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $17
- Apsara Dinner Show with Hotel Transfer: $19
- Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
- Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner & Tuk-Tuk...: $23
- Apsara Show Including Dinner & Hotel Pickup: $23
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $23
- Apsara Show and Dinner with Free Shared Round Trip Transfer: $23
- Dinner Show Apsara Dance Round Pick-up included: $25
- Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
- Apsara Dance Show & Dinner with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $27
- Khmer Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $29
- Apsara Theatre Performance include Dinner & hotel pick up: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.09Siem Reap $30
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day JomTour! Memorable Experience in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: $39
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $43
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Rainbow Island Ferry Tickets with Lunch: $47
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $48
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photowalking Tour: $49
- 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
- Sabah: Mari Mari Cultural Village Guided Tour with Lunch: $61
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Angkor Tour Guide$8.27
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- FREE Market & Local Temple Tour: $1.00
- Unique Guided Tour at Lotus Silk Farm: $2.50
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Satcha: Workshop Tour Guide incl. Free Soft Drink: $6.50
- Half Day Trip: Silk Farm, Satcha, and Senteur d'Angkor Tour: $10
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $10
- Angkor Eye Standard Ride Ticket: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small Group Tour: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise for Group or Private Tours: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Guided Tour With Small Group: $12
- Angkor Wat 1 Day with Sunrise Combined tour with (Tuk Tuk): $12
- Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.80Siem Reap $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Siem Reap, we can see that Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Siem Reap?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Siem Reap, 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.
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.