Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise? 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 Surfers Paradise?
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.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Surfers Paradise $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $104. 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Surfers Paradise $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Surfers Paradise $132
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise? 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 $22Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $14
- Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
- Luxury Private Transfer between Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast city (1-7pax) : $89
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $106
- Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $119
- All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise (Gold Coast Transfer): $149
- Private Transfer to Brisbane/BNE Airport from Gold Coast/OOL Airport( 1-7 pax): $229
- Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon + Winery Breakfast + Return Transfers: $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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 $15Surfers Paradise $26
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Surfers Paradise $23
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour: $149
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $75
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu River White Water Rafting Tour: $131
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Full Day River Rafting with ATV Adventure in Kiulu : $292
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$78
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line:Wax Museum Ticket-World in Wax & Guided Tour of Chamber of Horrors: $22
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise Day Pass: $30
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $30
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $32
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $33
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $33
- Gold Coast City Lights Cruise: $37
- Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour : $37
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak Tour: $46
- Paradise SUP Tour: $47
- Half-Day Whale Watching and Canal Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $52
- Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Surfers Paradise $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise is in Pacific, 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Surfers Paradise, 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 Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise in the Summer?
Both Surfers Paradise and Kota Kinabalu during the summer 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, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Surfers Paradise in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Surfers Paradisein January. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 256 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Surfers Paradisein January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Surfers Paradise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 22°C (71°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Surfers Paradise. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Surfers Paradisein July. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Surfers Paradisein July. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 226 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Surfers Paradisein July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?
Both Surfers Paradise and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 21°C (69°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Surfers Paradisein October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Surfers Paradise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.