Which place is cheaper, Suzhou or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou? 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 Suzhou?
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.
Suzhou
Suzhou is a city in Jiangsu province famed for its beautiful gardens and traditional waterside architecture, featuring elaborate canals and bridges. Located on the Yangtze Delta, the city consists largely of waterways making Suzhou a kind of 'Venice of the Orient.' It is also a hub for scholars, artists, and skilled craftsmen.
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 Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Suzhou $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Suzhou is $101. 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 Suzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Suzhou $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Suzhou $76
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Suzhou
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou? 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 $22Suzhou $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Suzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Suzhou:
- Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Arrival Transfer: Suzhou Train Station to Hotels in Suzhou: $44
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Tongli Water Town and Suzhou City : $58
- Private Round-Trip Transfer between Zhouzhuang Water Town and Suzhou City: $58
- Private Round Trip Transfer from Suzhou to Luzhi Water Town: $64
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Zhouzhuang Water Town : $81
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Zhouzhuang Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Suzhou Private Transfer to Tongli Water Town with Shanghai Drop-off Option: $84
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport Private Departure Transfer from Suzhou: $87
- Shanghai Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Tongli Water Town : $90
- Hangzhou Private Transfer from Suzhou with Stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town : $143
- Suzhou to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfer : $178
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou?
Prices for flights to both Suzhou 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 $15Suzhou $32
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
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Suzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Suzhou.
- Suzhou Alleyway Walking Food Tour With Locals: $55
- Half-Day Private Customized Suzhou Highlights with Lunch or Dinner Option: $123
- Private Suzhou Night Tour:Master of the Nets Garden, Ancient Canal with Dinner: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Suzhou $9.32
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
- Sunset E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- 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
Tours and Activities in Suzhou
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Suzhou are as follows:
- Suzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service : $65
- Zhouzhuang and Tongli Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou with Drop-off Options : $70
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Customized Tour: $71
- Suzhou Private English Tour Guide Service: $91
- Suzhou Private Walking Tour with Panmen Gate, City Moat and Yiyuan Garden: $101
- 4-Hour Flexible Suzhou City Highlights Private Tour: $114
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Flexible Tour with Garden and Boat Ride Option: $125
- Private Suzhou City Amazing Day Tour in Your Way : $127
- 4-Hour Tongli Water Town Private Tour from Suzhou with Boat Ride : $127
- 4-Hour Suzhou Private Tour: Humble Administrator’s Garden,Tiger Hill and Canal : $134
- Nanjing Self-Guided Tour from Suzhou by Private Car with Drop-off Option : $137
- Private Tour of Suzhou Museum, Humble Administrator's Garden and Pingjiang Road: $144
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Suzhou $6.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Suzhou, we can see that Suzhou 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 Suzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Suzhou 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 Suzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou?
Suzhou has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Suzhou, 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 Suzhou?
Suzhou 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 Suzhou in the Summer?
Both Suzhou 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 the summer, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Suzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Suzhou averages at about 28°C (83°F).
It's quite sunny in Suzhou. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Suzhou during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Suzhou. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 128 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Suzhou 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou in the Autumn?
Both Suzhou 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.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Suzhou. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Suzhou fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 162 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in October than Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Suzhou 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Suzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
It's quite cold in Suzhou in the winter. Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Suzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Suzhou fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Suzhou during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Suzhou receives 135 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Suzhou 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Suzhou in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Suzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Suzhou averages at about 15°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Suzhou receives 153 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in April than Suzhou. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Suzhou receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Suzhou 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Suzhou and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Suzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 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.