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

Should you visit Sandakan or Matsue?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Matsue? 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 Matsue?

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.

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Matsue, we can see that Matsue 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 Matsue Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Matsue?

Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Matsue, 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 Matsue?

Matsue 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 Matsue in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Matsue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Also, most visitors come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Sandakan is around the same temperature as Matsue in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.

Matsue 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 Matsue. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sandakan or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Matsue. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Matsue because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Matsue averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Matsue. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue 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 Matsue this time of year.

It's quite cold in Matsue in the winter. In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Matsue. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sandakan or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Matsue for the natural beauty.

Sandakan is much warmer than Matsue in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun.

Matsue 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 Matsue. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Sandakan