Which place is cheaper, Wellington 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 Wellington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Wellington? 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 Wellington?
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.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesWellington Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Wellington $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $124. 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 Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Wellington $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Wellington $120
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Wellington? 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 Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Wellington $12
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 Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington 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 $36Wellington $51
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
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Wellington $16
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 Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.95
- Wellington Zoo General Entry Tickets: $15
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Entry Ticket: $28
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Creative Classes Experience Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington: $33
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Zealandia by Day Tour: $37
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Wellington $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Wellington, we can see that Wellington 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 Wellington 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Wellington?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Wellington, 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 Wellington?
Wellington 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 Wellington in the Summer?
Both Wellington 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, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.
Sandakan is much warmer than Wellington in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Wellington fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.
In Wellington, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sandakan. In the summer, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Wellingtonin January. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 242 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Wellingtonin January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Wellington 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Wellington in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Wellington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Wellington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Wellington averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.
Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 163 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 Wellingtonin April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Wellington 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Wellington in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Wellington. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Wellington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Wellingtonin July. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In the winter, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Wellington. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Wellingtonin July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Wellington 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Wellington in the Spring?
Both Wellington 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, most visitors come to Wellington for the beaches during these months.
Sandakan is much warmer than Wellington in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Wellington fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Wellington 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Wellington and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Wellington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.