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

Should you visit Sandakan or Sado?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Sado? 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 Sado?

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Sandakan or Sado?

Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado 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 hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

In July, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Sado during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Sado. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sandakan or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado 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. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Sandakan is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Sado. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun.

Sado 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 October than Sado. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Sado in the Winter?

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

Sado can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Sado during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Sado. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sandakan or Sado in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Sado. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Sado. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Sado. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sado and Sandakan