Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Qingdao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Qingdao? 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 Qingdao?
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.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $58Qingdao $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Qingdao $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Qingdao $52
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Qingdao? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $33Qingdao $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao 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 $19Qingdao $20
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Qingdao $20
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: $105
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $197
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $241
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $138
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Qingdao $14
When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Qingdao, we can see that Sandakan 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 Qingdao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Qingdao?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Qingdao, 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 Qingdao?
Qingdao 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 Qingdao in the Summer?
Both Qingdao and Sandakan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Qingdao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Qingdao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Qingdao. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 183 hours of full sun.
Qingdao 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 July than Qingdao. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Qingdao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
In October, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Qingdao this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Qingdao during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 220 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Qingdao 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Qingdao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Qingdao. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Qingdao can be very cold. Sandakan is much warmer than Qingdao in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Qingdao fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Qingdao. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 185 hours of full sun.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Qingdao. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Qingdao -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Qingdao in the Spring?
Both Qingdao and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
In the spring, Sandakan is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Qingdao averages at about 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Qingdao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Qingdao during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 224 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Qingdao 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Qingdao and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Qingdao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.