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

Should you visit Sandakan or Sendai?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Sendai? 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 Sendai?

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.

Sendai

Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Sendai, we can see that Sendai is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Sendai?

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

Sendai 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 Sendai in the Summer?

Both Sendai 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. Also, many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Sandakan is a little warmer than Sendai in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Sendai fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 124 hours of full sun.

Sendai 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 July than Sendai. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Sendai in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Sendai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Also, most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Sendai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Sendai averages at about 15°C (59°F).

Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sendai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Sendai. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sandakan or Sendai in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Sendai. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

In the winter, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sendai. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun.

Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Sendai. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Sendai in the Spring?

Both Sendai and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

Sandakan is much warmer than Sendai in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Sendai fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Sendai. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sendai and Sandakan