Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Lombok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lombok or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lombok and Kota Kinabalu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lombok or Kota Kinabalu?
Lombok
Lombok is an island east of the well-tread Bali and west of lesser-developed Sumbawa. While Lombok is not as popular as its neighbor to the west, it is a great place to visit for that very reason. Less popularity means lower prices for accommodations, food, activities, and less-inundated tourist spots. Nonetheless, Lombok is rapidly developing in tourism, and the government is naming it and Sumbawa the number two tourism spots, following Bali.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Lombok Prices
Indonesia PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLombok $59Kota Kinabalu $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Lombok is $59, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $68. 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 Lombok and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLombok $28Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLombok $56Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Lombok and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Lombok or Kota Kinabalu? 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: Lombok Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lombok $11Kota Kinabalu $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lombok
Also for Lombok, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuta Lombok Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer International Airport Lombok (LOP) To Hotel: $17
- Gili Trawangan, Air, or 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali: $28
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Lombok Cruise Port: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Cruise Port to Lombok island hotels: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Island Hotels to Lombok Cruise Port: $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Koeta : $29
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Batu Payung: $30
- Private Airport Lombok Transfers to or from Gili Islands: $32
- Private Transfer from Mataram to Lombok Airport (LOP): $35
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Mangsit: $35
- Private Transfer from Lombok Airport (LOP) to Bintaro: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Lombok or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Lombok 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 dayLombok $20Kota Kinabalu $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lombok
For Lombok, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Anggrek Putih Lombok Cooking Class : $25
- Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $63
- Love and Legends: The Ultimate Romantic Dinner on the beach : $65
- Amazing Lombok BBQ Beach Sunset Dinner: $86
- Lombok Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok: $100
- Royal Dinner Experience in Lombok at Royal Tugudom: $119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $95
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lombok $9.90Kota Kinabalu $6.43
Tours and Activities in Lombok
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lombok.
- Gili T Island: The Thrilling Sunset Snorkeling Adventure: $17
- Lombok Private Tour-Car Hire With Full day Customize Trip: $33
- Lombok Customize Tour with Private Driver: $35
- Lombok Private Custom Tour - Lombok Car Hire with Driver : $36
- Half-Day Mataram City Tour: $45
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok Customize Tour: $45
- Lombok White Water Rafting and Pura Lingsar Private Full Day Tour: $48
- Gili Nanggu Snorkeling Tour to a Tropical Paradise: $49
- Mataram Lombok Historical City tour: $49
- Lombok City Tour combination With Temple Tour : $49
- Benang Stokel, Benang Kelambu, Culture, & Beach Tour: $49
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
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Island Hopping Tour From Kota Kinabalu (2 island): $90
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLombok $7.84Kota Kinabalu $7.18
When comparing the travel costs between Lombok and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lombok Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Lombok or Kota Kinabalu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Lombok or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Lombok during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lombok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
May to September is the dry season in Lombok. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lombok usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Lombok gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Lombok is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lombok in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLombok 26°C (79°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lombok and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lombok year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, November to April is the rainy season in Lombok. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Lombok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Lombok usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Lombok gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Lombok is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Lombok average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLombok 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lombok as well as Kota Kinabalu. Lombok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Lombok usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Lombok gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Lombok often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu. Lombok gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
Lombok is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Lombok averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLombok 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Lombok or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Lombok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lombok throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Lombok is May to September. The rainy season in Lombok is November to April. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Lombok usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Lombok gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Lombok is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lombok in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLombok 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Lombok
| Lombok | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 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.