Which place is cheaper, Ise or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan or Ise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Ise? 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 Ise?
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.
Ise
A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesIse Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Ise $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Ise is $110. 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 Ise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Ise $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Ise $86
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Ise
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Ise? 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 and Ise Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Ise $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sandakan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sandakan:
- Private 1Way Transfer to/from Sandakan Airport, City or Sepilok: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Ise?
Prices for flights to both Ise 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 $36Ise $43
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
- Sandakan : Fireflies and Mangrove Cruise with Dinner: $193
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Ise $6.04
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: $60
- Private Sandakan City Must See 6 Highlights Tour with Guide & Car: $63
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $82
- Sukau Rainforest Wildlife and Dawn Cruises Tour in Sandakan: $83
- Sukau Rainforest Wildlife Journey & Dawn Cruises: $87
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Sandakan Private City Tour Orangutan Sun Bears and Rainforest: $89
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
Tours and Activities in Ise
Here are a few actual costs in Ise for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Island Adventure Sea Kayak Tour(Ise-Shima): $47
- Express Tour of Japan’s Most Sacred Shrine: $47
- Ise Grand Shrine Morning Tour: $81
- Guided Bar-Hopping Tour with Food and Drinks: $85
- Full-Day Guided Tour of Shrines and Oharaimachi: $138
- Ise Grand Shrine and Okage Yokocho Guided Tour: $149
- Toba Private Customizable Half Day Tour: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Ise $4.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Ise, we can see that Ise is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ise 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 Ise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Ise?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Ise, 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 Ise?
Ise 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 Ise in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Ise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Ise in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Ise fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Ise during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.
Ise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Ise. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Ise 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Ise in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Ise. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Ise because of the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Ise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Ise averages at about 17°C (63°F).
In the autumn, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Ise. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ise. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Ise. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Ise 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Ise in the Winter?
Both Ise and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ise this time of year.
It's quite cold in Ise in the winter. In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Ise fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).
Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ise during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Ise. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Ise 5°C (40°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Ise in the Spring?
Both Ise and Sandakan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Ise for the beaches.
Sandakan is much warmer than Ise in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Ise fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Ise. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.
Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets less rain in April than Ise. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Ise 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Ise and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Ise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.