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

Should you visit Sandakan or Katoomba?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

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 Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Katoomba?

Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Katoomba, 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 Katoomba?

Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba 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 Katoomba because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Katoomba. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Katoomba during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Katoombain January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sandakan or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba 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, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

Sandakan is much warmer than Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

In the autumn, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain April. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Katoombain April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Katoomba. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Katoombain July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sandakan or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Katoomba. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Katoomba in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the spring, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain October. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun.

Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets more rain in April than Katoombain October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Sandakan