Which place is cheaper, Xiamen or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen? 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 Xiamen?
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.
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Xiamen $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $64. 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 Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Xiamen $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Xiamen $60
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen? 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 $22Xiamen $5.98
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- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- 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
- 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 Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Railway Station to Xiamen City: $10
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Transfers in Xiamen City: $12
- Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer From Xiamen City to Quanzhou City: $79
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen 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 $15Xiamen $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
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Xiamen $16
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 : $293
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $140
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Private Xiamen Half Day Tour to Gulangyu Island and the Hi Heaven Villa: $97
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- Private Xiamen Sea Food Market & Zhongshan Road Shopping and Eating Experience: $107
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $119
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Xiamen $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen 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 Xiamen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xiamen 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 Xiamen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Xiamen, 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 Xiamen?
Xiamen 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 Xiamen in the Summer?
Both Xiamen 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.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Xiamen in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Xiamen fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
Xiamen 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 Xiamen. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Xiamen 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Xiamen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Xiamen averages at about 25°C (77°F).
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Xiamen 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Xiamen. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Xiamen. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Xiamen 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Xiamen in the Spring?
Both Xiamen 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.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Xiamen in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Xiamen fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives less rain than Xiamen. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Xiamen 20°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Xiamen and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Xiamen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (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.