Which place is cheaper, Surfers Paradise or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sandakan or Surfers Paradise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Surfers Paradise? 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 Surfers Paradise?
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.
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
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 Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $58Surfers Paradise $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $58, while the average daily cost in Surfers Paradise is $104. 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 Surfers Paradise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $20Surfers Paradise $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $40Surfers Paradise $132
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Surfers Paradise
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Surfers Paradise? 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 $33Surfers Paradise $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $14
- Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
- Luxury Private Transfer between Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast city (1-7pax) : $89
- Private Transfer from Brisbane Airports to Surfers Paradise: $106
- Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $119
- All-Inclusive Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise (Gold Coast Transfer): $149
- Private Transfer to Brisbane/BNE Airport from Gold Coast/OOL Airport( 1-7 pax): $229
- Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon + Winery Breakfast + Return Transfers: $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Surfers Paradise?
Prices for flights to both Surfers Paradise 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 $19Surfers Paradise $26
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $7.19Surfers Paradise $23
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$78
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line:Wax Museum Ticket-World in Wax & Guided Tour of Chamber of Horrors: $22
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise Day Pass: $30
- Gold Coast 1.5-Hour Sightseeing River Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $30
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $32
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $33
- Gold Coast Quack'rDuck Amphibious Tour from Surfers Paradise: $33
- Gold Coast City Lights Cruise: $37
- Tropical Fruit World Farm Full Tour : $37
- Surfers Paradise Sunset Kayak Tour: $46
- Paradise SUP Tour: $47
- Half-Day Whale Watching and Canal Cruise from Surfers Paradise: $52
- Catch a Crab Tour with Optional Seafood Lunch: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $6.59Surfers Paradise $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Surfers Paradise?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Surfers Paradise, 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 Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise in the Summer?
Both Surfers Paradise 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. Furthermore, many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Surfers Paradise. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.
In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Surfers Paradisein January. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 256 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradisein January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Surfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Surfers Paradise in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Surfers Paradise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Surfers Paradisein April. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Surfers Paradise during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradisein April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Surfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Surfers Paradise in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Surfers Paradise. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Sandakan is much warmer than Surfers Paradise in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Surfers Paradise fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. In the winter, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Surfers Paradisein July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Surfers Paradise receives 226 hours of full sun.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Surfers Paradisein July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Surfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Surfers Paradise in the Spring?
Both Surfers Paradise 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 are the main draw to Surfers Paradise this time of year.
In the spring, Sandakan is a little warmer than Surfers Paradise. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Surfers Paradise averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Surfers Paradise during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Surfers Paradise receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of rain as Surfers Paradisein October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Surfers Paradise receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Surfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Surfers Paradise and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Surfers Paradise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.