Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Athens?
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 Athens or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Kota Kinabalu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Kota Kinabalu?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Kota Kinabalu €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is €57. 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 Athens and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Kota Kinabalu €17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Kota Kinabalu €34
Compare Hotels in Athens and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Kota Kinabalu €21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Mykonos Super Paradise Beach Transfers: $18
- Piraeus Port to and from Athens Airport Private Transfer: $18
- Santorini Airport Private Transfer: $25
- Athens Airport (ATH) Private Transfer to Athens Hotels/Piraeus: $26
- Santorini: Private Airport and Port Transfer Service: $27
- Athens Airport Private Transfer to Piraeus Port with Meet & Greet: $28
- Private Transfer from Piraeus Port to Athens City: $28
- Private Transfer from Athens City Center to Piraeus Port: $29
- Athens Airport to and from Rafina or Lavrio Port Private Transfer: $30
- Aegean Wonders Santorini Transfers: $33
- AIRPORT TRANSFER to/from hotel (up 14 in a luxurious Minibus ) : $33
- Athens International Airport (ATH) to Athens hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Athens 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 dayAthens €64Kota Kinabalu €25
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Athens Greek Wedding Party Dinner Show with Acropolis Views: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $51
- Cooking Class at Diamond Roof Garden: $66
- The Bizarre Food Tour of Athens: $78
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $78
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $81
- Athens Walking Food Tour with Visit to Varvakios Central Market: $82
- Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $82
- Traditional Cooking Classes incl. Drinks: $82
- Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $84
- Athens Evening Food Tour: $87
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
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Kota Kinabalu €5.46
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $7.65
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.36
- Private Self-Guided Audio City-Tour in Athens: $9.56
- Secret A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Traditional Greek Food: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Athens: $9.99
- Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $11
- Ancient Agora of Audio Tour on Your Phone (no ticket): $14
- Athens Museum of Cycladic Art | AdmissionTicket : $14
- Athens Museum of Illusions Ticket: $15
- Private Tour and Tasting at Zeginis Winery: $16
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- Dreamer Island Snorkeling Day Tour: $63
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Kota Kinabalu €6.10
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $14
- Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $17
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Bar Hopping | Pub Crawl: $19
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $19
- Saturday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens, Greece: $25
- Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $26
- Athens Ultimate Bar Crawl: $48
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $59
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $59
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $67
- Greek food and wine tasting: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Kota Kinabalu?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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 Athens or Kota Kinabalu?
Athens 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 Athens or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
Athens is around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Athens usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 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 JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Athens or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Kota Kinabalu. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 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 OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Athens or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Kota Kinabalu. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
In January, Athens is generally much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Athens usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Athens 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 JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Athens or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Athens is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kota Kinabalu during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Athens gets 25 mm (1 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 AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Athens
| Athens | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 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.