Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Kota Kinabalu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $49Zhangjiajie $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $49, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $18Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $36Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie? 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 $22Zhangjiajie $14
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
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- 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
- 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 Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $15Zhangjiajie $20
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 Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $5.67Zhangjiajie $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 : $293
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $140
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Tianmen Mountain day tour: $96
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $115
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain With the Skywalk: $121
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $122
- 1-day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge Tour: $132
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- Private Day Tour of Baofeng Lake and Yellow Dragon Cave: $140
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $6.34Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Zhangjiajie. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie 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.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie 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.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Zhangjiajie | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.