Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Tallinn?
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 Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu?
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. It has a population of more than 430,000 people and is a charming, yet cosmopolitan place to visit. The Old Town is at the center of the city's tourism, and the beauty and architecture is very impressive. The city's close proximity to Helsinki makes it a popular day trip from Finland, but cheap plane flights have also encouraged visitors from around Europe to spend several days in this city. In particular, summer months can become quite crowded.
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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Tallinn Prices
Estonia PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTallinn €121Kota Kinabalu €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Tallinn is €121, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is €60. 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 Tallinn and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTallinn €47Kota Kinabalu €18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTallinn €94Kota Kinabalu €36
Compare Hotels in Tallinn and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu? 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: Tallinn Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tallinn €12Kota Kinabalu €23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tallinn
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tallinn:
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Tram Around Town for Two€1.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallinn
Also for Tallinn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tallinn Airport to Tallinn city center: $34
- Transfer service in Tallinn: $35
- Private Transfer from Tallinn hotels to Tallinn Cruise Port: $40
- Private Transfer from Tallinn Airport to Tallinn city center: $46
- Private Airport Transfer: $47
- Highlights Shore Excursion with Return Transfer: $65
- Tallinn Highlights Shore Excursion With Port Return Transfer: $69
- Tallinn Return Airport Transfers: $77
- Tallinn Cruise Port to Tallinn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- Beginner Archery Class with Transfer: $88
- Tallinn Airport Transfer - Return: $95
- CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer from Tallinn Airport/Port to Tallinn: $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $25
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $54
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $75
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Tallinn 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 dayTallinn €62Kota Kinabalu €27
Typical Food Prices in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two€7.68
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Dessert€1.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tallinn old town: Estonian Cuisine Cooking Class: $81
- Tallinn Russian Dinner: $90
- Estonian cuisine Cooking Class: $93
- Tallinn Beer House Dinner: $100
- Tallinn 3-Hour Estonian Food Tour: $141
- Vegan Food Tours Tallinn: $229
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Kota Kinabalu Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies Tour: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $94
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $142
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $189
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tallinn €5.63Kota Kinabalu €5.74
Tours and Activities in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Audio Self Tour Guide with 10 Sightseeing Points: $1.16
- Tales of Reval Walking Tour with Smartphone App: $7.02
- Audio Tour of the Toompea Hill (Cathedral Hill) in Tallinn: $8.20
- Aegna Island: Self-Guided Discovery Tour: $9.37
- Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour Medieval to Digital Estonia: $14
- Towers, Legends and Communism: An Audio Tour of Tallinn: $15
- Tour to the Paljassaare Special Protection Area: $15
- Discover Terrific Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Guided Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour: $16
- Tallinn Coastal Chronicles Walking Tour: $17
- Time Travel Experience "VR Tallinn 1939/44": $18
- Virtual Time Travel Experience VR Tallinn 1939/44 I: $18
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Borneo Combo Adventure: $200
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- Discover Sailing Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $88
- Dreamer Island Snorkeling Day Tour: $78
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTallinn €15Kota Kinabalu €6.41
Sample the Local Flavors in Tallinn
Also in Tallinn, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Telliskivi Bar Crawl with games, drinks, discounts: $19
- Old Town Bar Crawl - Shots, Games, Deals & Club: $21
- Tallinn Old Town Bar Crawl - free shots, discounts & club: $22
- Bar Crawl with Shots, Beer, and Nightclub Entry: $23
- Tallinn Exclusive Pub & Bar Crawl - Free Drink, Local Guide: $46
- Tallinn Guided Bar Crawl: $133
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tallinn and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Tallinn is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tallinn is in Europe and Kota Kinabalu is in Asia, 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 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 Tallinn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tallinn 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 Tallinn Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Tallinn. When comparing the sizes of Tallinn and Kota Kinabalu, 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 Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu?
Tallinn has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tallinn as well as Kota Kinabalu. Many visitors come to Tallinn in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
In the summer, Tallinn is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tallinn in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tallinn this time of the year. In the summer, Tallinn often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTallinn 17°C (62°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Tallinn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Tallinn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Tallinn is generally much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Tallinn average around 7°C (44°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Tallinn usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Tallinn gets 92 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Tallinn usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTallinn 7°C (44°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Tallinn during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Tallinn because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
The weather in Tallinn can be very cold. Tallinn is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Tallinn averages around -5°C (22°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In the winter, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn gets 25 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tallinn usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTallinn -5°C (22°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tallinn and Kota Kinabalu. The natural beauty are the main draw to Tallinn this time of year. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Tallinn in the spring. In the spring, Tallinn is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tallinn in April average around 4°C (39°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. Tallinn usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during spring. Tallinn gets 186 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Tallinn usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Tallinn gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTallinn 4°C (39°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Tallinn
| Tallinn | Kota Kinabalu | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (22°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | -6°C (22°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (29°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (39°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | -3°C (27°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 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.