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

Should you visit Sandakan or Yichang?

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

Should I visit Sandakan or Yichang? 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 Yichang?

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.

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.

When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Yichang, 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 Yichang Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Yichang?

Yichang has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Yichang, 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 Yichang?

Yichang 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 Yichang in the Summer?

Both Yichang and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.

In July, Sandakan is generally around the same temperature as Yichang. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Yichang. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Yichang during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yichang. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Yichang. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yichang in the Autumn?

Both Yichang 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.

Sandakan is a little warmer than Yichang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Yichang fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

In the autumn, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Yichang. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 134 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Yichang. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yichang in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.

In the winter, Sandakan is much warmer than Yichang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Yichang averages at about 6°C (43°F).

Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 92 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Yichang. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sandakan or Yichang in the Spring?

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

In April, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 18°C (65°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 Yichang. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 129 hours of full sun.

Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets more rain in April than Yichang. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Yichang and Sandakan