A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kota Kinabalu vs. Yaeyama Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Yaeyama Islands?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Yaeyama Islands? 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 Yaeyama Islands?

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.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

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 Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Yaeyama Islands, we can see that Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Yaeyama Islands. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives less sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during summer. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In July, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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. Also, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands 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 October than Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during winter. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun in the winter.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 23°C (74°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 Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu usually gets less rain in April than Yaeyama Islands. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Kota Kinabalu