Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Kota Kinabalu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Kota Kinabalu?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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 Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Kota Kinabalu $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $70. 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 Nairobi and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Kota Kinabalu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- NBO Airport Private Transfer to/from Nairobi City Center: $8.85
- Safe and Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $20
- Private Airport Transfer and Service in Nairobi: $20
- Safe Airport Transfer in Nairobi: $22
- Seamless Nairobi Airport Transfers: $25
- Private Airport Transfers To or From Nairobi Airports.: $25
- Private One-Way Transfer from Nairobi: $27
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Private One-Way Nairobi Airport Transfer: $29
- Airport Transfer in Nairobi- JKIA: $30
- Wilson Airport Private Transfer to Nairobi hotels or Airport: $30
- Safe Private Airport transfer in Nairobi: $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $24
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport (BKI) Private Transfer: $23
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Kota Kinabalu $31
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $68
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
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: $31
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Klias River Dinner Cruise with Firefly Spotting: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $140
- Scenic Full Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $153
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $167
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Kota Kinabalu $6.62
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
- Kibera Community Tour with Local Guide MC Dawn: $20
- Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
- Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
- Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
- Nairobi Green Bus City Sightseeing Tour 4 Hours: $23
- Kibera Slum Compassionate Walking Experience 3 Hours: $23
- Nairobi History, Culture and Modern City Walking Tour: $24
- Nairobi City Tour: $25
- Nairobi city walking tour: $25
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- 2 Hour Kota Kinabalu Local Street Food and History Walking Tour: $47
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $88
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Full Day Tour in Mantanani: $150
- Guided Snorkeling Tour & Lunch at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Kota Kinabalu $7.40
When comparing the travel costs between Nairobi 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. Even though Nairobi is in Africa and Kota Kinabalu is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Kota Kinabalu?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi 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.
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.