A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Kota Kinabalu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Kota Kinabalu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu?

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Similan Islands and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Kota Kinabalu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Similan Islands Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.

June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the summer. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the summer, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Similan Islands in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?

Both Kota Kinabalu and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In October, Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Similan Islands is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (81°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?

Both Kota Kinabalu and Similan Islands during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.

Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Similan Islands usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the winter, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Kota Kinabalu. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during spring. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Similan Islands in April average around 29°C (83°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Similan Islands