Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Darjiling or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling 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: Darjiling or Kota Kinabalu?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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 Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
-
Darjiling Prices
India PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $43Kota Kinabalu $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $43, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $68. 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 Darjiling and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $12Kota Kinabalu $21
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $24Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.10Kota Kinabalu $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $52
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $69
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: $77
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $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 Darjiling or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Darjiling 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
-
Food Meals for one dayDarjiling $23Kota Kinabalu $30
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
- Taste Of Borneo Cooking Class: $95
- 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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $11Kota Kinabalu $6.43
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $23
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $23
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $29
- Mirik Lake Day Tour From Darjeeling: $35
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $52
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $61
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $77
- Private Calcutta Tour With Guide and Authentic Bengali lunch: $83
- Mirik Lake Day tour: $85
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $99
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
- 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
- Island Hopping Tour From Kota Kinabalu (2 island): $90
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.32Kota Kinabalu $7.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Kota Kinabalu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kota Kinabalu than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling 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.
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.