Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Sandakan or Koh Tao? 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.
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.
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Koh Tao in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Koh Tao? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Koh Tao, we can see that Sandakan is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan than you might in Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 280 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Koh Tao, 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
The summer brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Koh Tao. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Koh Tao. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the summer, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Both Koh Tao and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Koh Tao is October and November. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In October, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Sandakan is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
Both Koh Tao 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Koh Tao. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
In January, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Sandakan | Koh Tao | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |