Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Hongcun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Hongcun? 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 Hongcun?
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.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $58Hongcun $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $52. 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 Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Hongcun? 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 $33Hongcun $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun 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 $19Hongcun $19
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
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.83
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Hongcun $17
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Hongcun $14
When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Hongcun, we can see that Sandakan 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Hongcun?
Hongcun 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 Hongcun in the Summer?
Both Hongcun and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Hongcun. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Hongcun averages at about 29°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hongcun. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Hongcun in the Autumn?
Both Hongcun 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.
In October, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Hongcun. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Hongcun in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. Sandakan is much warmer than Hongcun in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Hongcun in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Hongcun. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Sandakan is much warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun averages at about 17°C (62°F).
It's quite rainy in Hongcun. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets less rain in April than Hongcun. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.