Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Kanazawa? 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 Kanazawa?
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.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesKanazawa Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Kanazawa $131
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $131. 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 Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Kanazawa $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Kanazawa $132
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Kanazawa? 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 Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Kanazawa $9.66
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 Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa 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 $36Kanazawa $58
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Japanese Cooking and Sushi-Making Lesson: $101
- traditional Japanese & sushi cooking classes: $103
- Fishing Experience with Gyotaku and Cooking: $422
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Kanazawa $10
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Borneo : Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, and Sun Bear Tour: $338
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $230
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $260
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- From Sandakan to Kinabatangan River Safari Boat Cruise Day Tour: $163
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $82
- Full Day At Sepilok Orangutan, Sun Bear & Sandakan City Tour: $164
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- Rental Kimono Selfie Photo Experience: $21
- Ring making experience　 Completed in about 1 hour! : $23
- Private Ring Craft Experience in Kanazawa: $23
- Selfie Photo Experience with Rental Kimono - Moon: $23
- Selfie Photo Experience with Rental Kimono - Color: $27
- Tea Ceremony Experience at Kenrokuen: $30
- Kanazawa:Traditional Experience -kimono rent at wargo: $33
- Kenrokuen Tea Ceremony Experience: $37
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Omicho Market with Tastings: $54
- Private Custom Tour with Local Guide: $54
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $55
- Market Tastings and Castle Town Adventure in Kanazawa: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Kanazawa $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Kanazawa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kanazawa:
- Kanazawa Historic Brewery: Fermentation Tour, Tasting, Lunch: $81
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Kanazawa, we can see that Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Kanazawa?
Kanazawa has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Kanazawa, 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 Kanazawa?
Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Kanazawa. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Kanazawa for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Kanazawa. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Kanazawa fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the summer, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Kanazawa. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanazawa receives 180 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kanazawa. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan usually gets less rain in July than Kanazawa. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 251 mm (9.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Kanazawa 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Kanazawa in the Autumn?
Both Kanazawa and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Kanazawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Sandakan is much warmer than Kanazawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Kanazawa fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Kanazawa during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Kanazawa receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kanazawa. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Kanazawa. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 203 mm (8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Kanazawa 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Kanazawa in the Winter?
Both Kanazawa and Sandakan during the winter 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 Kanazawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Kanazawa can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Kanazawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Kanazawa averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Kanazawa. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanazawa receives 67 hours of full sun.
Kanazawa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Kanazawa. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 294 mm (11.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Kanazawa 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Kanazawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Kanazawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
In April, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Kanazawa. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Kanazawa fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Kanazawa during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Kanazawa receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kanazawa receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Kanazawa. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Kanazawa receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Kanazawa 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Kanazawa and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Kanazawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 156 mm (6.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 251 mm (9.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 248 mm (9.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 203 mm (8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 306 mm (12 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.