Which place is cheaper, Perth 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 Perth?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Perth? 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 Perth?
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.
Perth
Capital of Western Australia, Perth is a city that sits where the Swan River meets the sea, and given its ocean side location there is plenty to see and do on the water and beyond. Spend a day on Perth's sandy beaches or get lost in its parks and gardens, sail down the river or enjoy the city's history and culture visiting museums and historic sites, shopping, dining, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Australia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Australia.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesPerth Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Perth $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Perth is $158. 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 Perth in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Perth $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Perth $150
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Perth
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Perth? 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 Perth Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Perth $25
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Perth
Also for Perth, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- PER Airport to Perth City Centre Private Transfer: $34
- Perth Departure Transfer by Private Chauffeur: Perth City Center to Airport: $50
- Hillarys Boat Harbour: Rottnest Island Ferry Transfer: $61
- Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth Airport(PER): $74
- Private Transfer from Fremantle Cruise Port to Perth city hotels: $74
- Private Transfer from Perth Airport(PER) to Fremantle Cruise Port: $75
- Departure Transfer: Perth to Perth Airport PER by Business Car: $79
- Perth city to Perth Airport (PER) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Departure Private Transfer: Perth City to Perth Airport PER in Luxury Van: $107
- Airport Arrival Transfer in Perth : $112
- One Way Flight Transfer to or from Rottnest Island: $165
- Perth Airport (PER) to Perth city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $177
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Perth?
Prices for flights to both Perth 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 $36Perth $62
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 Perth
For Perth, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hands on Cooking Class or Cooking Workshop Experience: $69
- Swan River Dinner Cruise: $99
- Swan River Dinner Cruise: $101
- From Pinnacles Sunset and Stargazing Tour with Dinner: $122
- Pinnacles Sunset Stargazing Dinner Experience Small Group Tour: $124
- Pinnacles Desert Sunset and Stargazing with Dinner: $149
- Pinnacles Desert Sunset Dinner and Stargazing Tour: $167
- The 10 Tastings of Perth With Locals: Private Food Tour : $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Perth $14
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: $75
- 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 Perth
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Perth.
- Fantasy Hunt in Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $5.97
- Perth Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.72
- Perth Historic Downtown Smartphone Guided GPS Audio Walking Tour : $9.75
- Perth Bell Tower Entry Ticket and Bell Chiming Experience: $12
- Quest Experience in Cottesloe Beach Perth Pirates by the Sea : $12
- Explore Wonderful Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- CBD Boom and Bust walking tour: $17
- The Perth Mint Gold Tour: $17
- Boom-and-Bust: self-guided historical walking tour of Perth: $17
- Murder-and-Macabre: True Crime Self-Guided Walking Tour of Perth: $17
- Tales-on-Tap: self-guided tour of Perth's Historical Pubs : $17
- Female trailblazers: self-guided women's history tour of Perth: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Perth $7.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Perth
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Perth:
- Swan Valley Gin Distillery Tasting : $13
- Afternoon Swan Valley Wine Tasting with Transportation: $63
- Swan Valley: Half-Day Wine Tour From Perth: $69
- Swan Valley Half-Day Wine Tour - Small Group Experience: $70
- Swan Valley Half Day Wine Tour from Perth: $70
- Swan Valley Wine Tour - Half Day Afternoon: $70
- Half-Day Swan Valley Wine Tour with Tastings - From Perth: $79
- Swan Valley: Out for the Afternoon Wine Tasting with Lunch: $83
- Swan Valley: Full-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $99
- Swan Valley Wine Tour - Full Day: $100
- Small-Group Bickley Valley Wine Tour: $106
- From Swan Valley Winery & Brewery Day Tour With Lunch: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Perth, we can see that Perth 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 Perth 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 Perth would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Perth 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 Perth Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Perth?
Perth has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Perth, 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 Perth?
Perth 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 Perth in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Perth. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Perth for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Perthin January. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Perth fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Perth. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the summer, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Perthin January. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Perth receives 331 hours of full sun.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Perthin January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Perth receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Perth 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Perth in the Autumn?
Both Perth 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 Perth in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Perth in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Perth fluctuates around 19°C (67°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Perth. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Perth during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Perth receives 219 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Perthin April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Perth receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Perth 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Perth in the Winter?
Both Perth 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 Perth for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Perth. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Perth averages at about 13°C (55°F)in July.
In the winter, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Perthin July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Perth receives 166 hours of full sun.
Perth 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 Perthin July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Perth receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Perth 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Perth in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Perth. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Perth because of the beaches.
In April, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Perthin October. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Perth fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Perth this time of the year. In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Perth during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Perth receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Perthin October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Perth receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Perth 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Perth and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Perth | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 8 mm (0.3 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.