Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Fraser Island? 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 Fraser Island?
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.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $58Fraser Island $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $206. 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 Sandakan and Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Fraser Island $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Fraser Island $204
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Fraser Island? 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $33Fraser Island $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $19Fraser Island $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Fraser Island $44
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $105
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $52
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $72
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise : $79
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $98
- Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale watching & Island Stop Tour: $109
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $164
- Remote Fraser Island Experience: $164
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour: $180
- K'gari/2-Day Tagalong Tour from Hervey Bay: $340
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Fraser Island $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Fraser Island?
Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island in the Summer?
Both Fraser Island and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Fraser Island because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Fraser Island in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Fraser Island. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Fraser Island in the Autumn?
Both Fraser Island and Sandakan during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.
In the autumn, Sandakan is a little warmer than Fraser Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Fraser Islandin April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Fraser Island in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Fraser Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Fraser Island for the cuisine.
In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Fraser Islandin July. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Fraser Island in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Fraser Island. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Fraser Island in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Fraser Island in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 21°C (71°F)in October.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets more rain in April than Fraser Islandin October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)
Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Fraser Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.