Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays? 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 $22Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $15Whitsundays $30
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 Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Whitsundays $25
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
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Whitsundays. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays and Kota Kinabalu during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Whitsundays | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.