Which place is cheaper, Stockholm 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 Stockholm?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm? 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 Stockholm?
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.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden and is made up of over 14 islands that are connected by countless bridges. Water is an integral part of the city, but so are parks and gardens. The city is covered in strategically positioned green space. Together, the water and parkland cover more than half of the city's area, giving this bustling city a breath of fresh air.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Sweden, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Sweden.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesStockholm Prices
Sweden Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70Stockholm $221
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, while the average daily cost in Stockholm is $221. 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 Stockholm in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Stockholm $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Stockholm $218
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Stockholm
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm? 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 Stockholm Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Stockholm $23
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: $38
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $75
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $54
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Stockholm
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Stockholm:
- Arlanda Airport (ARN): Train Transfer to/from Stockholm: $25
- Arlanda Express Train Airport and Stockholm City Transfer: $46
- Stockholm Bromma Airport (BMA) to Stockholm City - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Private Transfer from Bromma Airport (BMA) to Stockholm Port: $66
- Transfer Arlanda Stockholm Airport(ARN) to Stockholm City: $73
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) to Uppsala City - Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Nynashamn Cruise Port to Stockholm Hotels: $82
- Stockholm Port to Stockholm Bromma Airport (BMA) - Departure Private Transfer: $94
- Stockholm Bromma Airport (BMA) to Stockholm Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $94
- Private Transfer from Stockholm Hotels to Stockholm Airport: $100
- Stockholm to Stockholm Airport(ARN) - Departure Private Transfer: $102
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) to Stockholm City - Arrival Private Transfer: $102
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm?
Prices for flights to both Stockholm 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 $31Stockholm $70
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
- Kota Kinabalu Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies Tour: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $94
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $142
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $189
Typical Food Prices in Stockholm
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Stockholm:
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Breakfast$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Stockholm
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Stockholm.
- Boat Trip to Exe Ericson Mural & Pizza: $27
- Taysta Food Tour in Stockholm: $29
- City Cruise with Fresh Pizza: $31
- Stockholm Pizza Cruise - Explore Stockholm's Waterways: $32
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings -Eat like a Viking: $99
- Stockholm Food Tour: $118
- Food Tour: $119
- Old Town Food Tour of 7 Locals Favorites Tastings: $123
- Stockholm Small Group Food Tour with 7 Classic Food Tastings: $135
- Stockholm Food Tour with Metro Art and a Royal Murder Drama: $141
- Stockholm Food Tour Dining Through Sweden’s History: $141
- From Moose & Wildlife Safari with Campfire Dinner: $157
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.62Stockholm $29
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sabah Mali-Mali Garden Spa Massage Experience: $27
- Bongawan River Cruise, City Tour & Fireflies: $28
- Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu: $38
- Kota Kinabalu 3 Hour Coastal Fishing and Island Tour: $38
- 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
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
Tours and Activities in Stockholm
Here are a few actual costs in Stockholm for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Stockholm Secret Treasures A Self Guided Nordic Adventure: $1.15
- Reveal Your Eye Experience at the Iris Galerie: $1.52
- Self-Guided Tours In Stockholm With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.51
- Stockholm Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.51
- Stockholm Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.52
- Sodermalm Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.46
- From Stockholm with Love: Romantic Exploration Game and Tour: $4.97
- Stockholm Troll Hunt: Self-Guided Old Town Adventure: $6.32
- Stockholm Ghost Hunt: Self-Guided Tour and Puzzle Adventure: $6.32
- Stockholm Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h20 and 25 reviews: $6.95
- Royal Vikings of Outdoor Escape Puzzle Adventure: $8.79
- Audio City-Tour in Stockholm: $9.39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.40Stockholm $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Stockholm
Also in Stockholm, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Pub Crawl VIP Club Access: $14
- The Original Pub Crawl: $26
- Stockholm's Best Pub Crawl: $37
- Stockholm's Best Pub Crawl: $37
- Wine tasting in Old Town Stockholm: $53
- Swedish Wine Tasting Tour in Stockholm Gamla Stan: $332
- Private Pub Crawl, Free Shots & Club Entry: $419
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Stockholm, we can see that Stockholm 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 Stockholm 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 Stockholm would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Stockholm 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 Stockholm Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm?
Stockholm has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Stockholm, 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 Stockholm?
Stockholm 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 Stockholm in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Stockholm. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, most visitors come to Stockholm for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Stockholm. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Stockholm fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Stockholm this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Stockholm during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Stockholm receives 260 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Stockholm receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Stockholm 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Stockholm because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Stockholm in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Stockholm fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Stockholm receives 99 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Stockholm receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Stockholm 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm in the Winter?
Both Stockholm 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. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Stockholm this time of year.
It's quite cold in Stockholm in the winter. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Stockholm. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Stockholm averages at about -3°C (27°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Stockholm during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Stockholm receives 40 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Stockholm receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Stockholm -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Stockholm in the Spring?
Both Stockholm 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Stockholm for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Stockholm. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Stockholm fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Stockholm receives 185 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Stockholm. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Stockholm receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Stockholm 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Stockholm and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Stockholm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 65 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 45 mm (1.8 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.