A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sandakan vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sandakan or Coffs Harbour?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Sandakan or Coffs Harbour? 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: Sandakan or Coffs Harbour?

Sandakan

Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sandakan is in Asia and Coffs Harbour is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour than you might in Sandakan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Coffs Harbour Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Coffs Harbour?

Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Coffs Harbour, 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 Sandakan or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sandakan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

Both Coffs Harbour and Sandakan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Coffs Harbourin January. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Coffs Harbourin January. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun.

Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Coffs Harbourin January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Coffs Harbour. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Coffs Harbour because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Sandakan is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 20°C (67°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Coffs Harbour during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Coffs Harbour receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Coffs Harbourin April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sandakan or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Coffs Harbour. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. In the winter, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun.

Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Coffs Harbourin July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

Both Coffs Harbour and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Coffs Harbourin October. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Coffs Harbour during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Coffs Harbourin October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Sandakan