Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Tiberias?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu? 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: Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu?
Tiberias
Tiberias is a major tourist destination in Israel. It's positioned on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and is a popular spot for Israeli and international tourists alike. The town itself offers great views of the beautiful blue waters and the surrounding green hills. Tiberias is also considered to be one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities. Many people also use Tiberias as a jumping off point to explore the Golan Heights area.
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 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTiberias $87Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $87, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $49. 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 Tiberias and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTiberias $55Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTiberias $110Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Tiberias 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: Tiberias Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tiberias $4.55Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Tiberias 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 dayTiberias $28Kota Kinabalu $15
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tiberias:
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Lunch for Two$5.30
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Pastry$1.86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Private Kinabalu Night Tour with Cultural Show and Dinner: $62
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $86
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tiberias $10Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias
Here are a few typical costs in Tiberias for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Bikes for Day$32
Tours and Activities in Tiberias
Here are a few actual costs in Tiberias for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
- Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160
- Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
- Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Sunset E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTiberias $17Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tiberias and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Tiberias is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tiberias is in Middle East 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 Tiberias would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tiberias 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 Tiberias Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tiberias. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias 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 Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tiberias and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tiberias year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In Tiberias, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during summer. Tiberias gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Tiberias is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Tiberias average around 28°C (82°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTiberias 28°C (82°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tiberias as well as Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias usually gets less rain in October than Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tiberias this time of the year. In the autumn, Tiberias often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun.
Tiberias is cooler than Kota Kinabalu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tiberias averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTiberias 24°C (75°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Tiberias are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tiberias throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Tiberias usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during winter. Tiberias gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Tiberias is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tiberias in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTiberias 14°C (57°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Tiberias or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Tiberias during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tiberias 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. Tiberias usually gets less rain in April than Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tiberias. In the spring, Tiberias often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Tiberias gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun.
In April, Tiberias is generally cooler than Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Tiberias average around 20°C (68°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTiberias 20°C (68°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Tiberias
| Tiberias | Kota Kinabalu | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 37 mm (1.5 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.