Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Mumbai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu?
Mumbai
Mumbai is the largest city in India and the capital of Maharashtra state. It is still occasionally referred to as Bombay, but most people know it now as Mumbai. It's the commercial capital of the country and is a major port city. It's also famous for Bollywood, which is the movie capital of the country and famous for it's music filled Bollywood flicks that have become popular around the world. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India and has some of the most liberal views of an otherwise conservative country. Many immigrants and expats live in Mumbai and it's easy to see the blend of cultures.
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 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMumbai $69Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Mumbai is $69, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $49. 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 Mumbai and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMumbai $34Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMumbai $68Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Mumbai and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Mumbai 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: Mumbai Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mumbai $7.77Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mumbai
Also for Mumbai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dharavi Slum Tour in Mumbai with Combo Packages & Transfers: $12
- Mumbai Private Car: Airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
- Airport to Hotel or Hotel to Airport Transfers: $24
- Private Transfer to/from Mumbai Airport: $24
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Mumbai HTL-APT (BOM): $27
- Private Transfer From/To Mumbai Chhatrapati International Airport: $27
- Affordable transfer from Mumbai Airport to Pune: $28
- Mumbai Airport Transfer in Private Vehicle: $28
- Private Hotel Transfers to/from Mumbai Airport: $30
- One way Private transfer from Mumbai Airport to Hotel: $34
- Private Hotel Transfers to/from Airport: $36
- Private Transfer from Chatrapati Shivaji (BOM) Airport to Mumbai: $39
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Mumbai 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 dayMumbai $26Kota Kinabalu $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mumbai
For Mumbai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Virtual Authentic Indian Tea and Paratha Cooking Class: $14
- Hidden Gems and Street Food Tour: $15
- Discover Mumbai's street & beach with food tour: $17
- Mumbai Food Tour: $20
- Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Virtual Cooking Class Experience from Mumbai: $20
- Mumbai Food Tour: $25
- Street Food Tour - Eat like a Local with sunset view: $26
- Old Bombay Bazaar and Food Tour with local Guide: $27
- Guided Food Tour Through the Vibrant Markets of Old Bombay: $28
- Street Food Tour: $32
- Indian cusine demonstration cum hands on with Hi Tea / Dinner at a Family home: $33
- Mumbai Street Food Tour with Sun Set View: $38
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.Mumbai $2.66Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Mumbai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Mumbai.
- Audio Guided Walking Tour on HopOn India App – From Gateway to Fountain, Mumbai: $5.32
- Elephanta Caves Audio Guided Walking Tour, Mumbai on HopOn India App: $5.34
- Highlights Bus Full-Day Tour in Hindi: $5.40
- Dharavi Slum Tour with Local guide: $6.00
- Audio Guided Tour of Matunga & Dadar Parsi Colony, Mumbai: $6.14
- Malabar District, Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Mumbai (Malabar District) Self-Guided Tour: $6.67
- Dharavi Slum Tour: $8.63
- Dharavi Slum Tour: $8.99
- Inside Dharavi: Unveiling Mumbai's Slum Culture Tour: $9.11
- Dharavi Slum Experience with Local Resident English Guide: $9.50
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMumbai $3.69Kota Kinabalu $6.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Mumbai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mumbai:
- Bombay Party (Bar Crawl): $25
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
- South Bombay Pub Crawl: $39
- Mumbai Pub Crawl: History, Iconic Bars, Cocktail Workshop, Stories and Drinks : $90
- Mumbai Private Bar Crawl with City Night Tour: $124
- Nashik: Private Full-Day Wine Tour with Tastings From Mumbai: $128
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour at Sula Vineyards from Mumbai: $152
- Wine Tasting Tour Sula Vineyards Nashik - (Day excursion from Mumbai): $163
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mumbai and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Mumbai 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 Mumbai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mumbai 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 Mumbai Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu?
Mumbai has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Mumbai and Kota Kinabalu, 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 Mumbai 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 Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Mumbai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mumbai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Mumbai. Mumbai usually gets more rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai gets 640 mm (25.2 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Mumbai often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai gets 73 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
In July, Mumbai is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Mumbai average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMumbai 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mumbai and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mumbai year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Mumbai usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Mumbai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mumbai usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Mumbai gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Mumbai is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mumbai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMumbai 29°C (84°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mumbai as well as Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai 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. Mumbai usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mumbai this time of the year. In the winter, Mumbai often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai gets 270 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Mumbai is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mumbai in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMumbai 24°C (75°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Mumbai or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Mumbai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mumbai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Mumbai usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Mumbai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mumbai. Mumbai usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during spring. Mumbai gets 284 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mumbai is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Mumbai average around 29°C (84°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMumbai 29°C (84°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Mumbai
| Mumbai | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 560 mm (22 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 640 mm (25.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 520 mm (20.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.