Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket 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: Phuket or Kota Kinabalu?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, 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 Phuket and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Phuket 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Kota Kinabalu $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket Airport Bus Transfer from/to Karon Beach: $5.35
- From Phuket or Pa Tong: Transfer to Gun Shooting Range: $6.76
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $10
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $12
- Phuket Airport Transfer (SHA Plus) : $13
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $14
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $15
- Phuket International and Domestic Airport - Arrival Transfer : $15
- Phuket International and Domestic Airport - Departure Transfer : $16
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Departure Transfer from Phuket Hotels (Shared or Private): $16
- Phuket International Airport (HKT): Transfer to/from Phuket: $16
- Phuket Shared Departure Transfer: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $22Kota Kinabalu $15
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Twilight Stylish Sky Set Dinner - The SIS Kata Resort : $54
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
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
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $144
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Botanic Garden Admission Ticket: $3.02
- The Selfie Experience Phuket Admission Ticket: $4.16
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunts and Gamified Tours: $11
- Phuket to Phi Phi Tonsai Ferry by Royal Jet Cruiser with Pickup Service: $13
- Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket Trickeye Museum Day Admission Ticket: $15
- Baan Teelanka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $16
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Original Discovery Tour: $17
- Simon Cabaret Phuket Show Admission Ticket: $20
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
- Sunset Charter Cruise Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Kota Kinabalu $6.34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Phuket 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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 Phuket or Kota Kinabalu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Phuket or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Phuket usually receives more rain than Kota Kinabalu. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during summer. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Phuket is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Kota Kinabalu. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket usually gets less rain in October than Kota Kinabalu. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun.
In October, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket 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 Phuket is December to March. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Phuket usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during winter. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Phuket during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Kota Kinabalu. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the spring, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Phuket is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Phuket
| Phuket | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.