Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Koh Chang?
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 Koh Chang or Sandakan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Sandakan, 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: Koh Chang or Sandakan?
Koh Chang
Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia.
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Koh Chang Prices
Thailand PricesSandakan Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Chang $70Sandakan $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $70, while the average daily cost in Sandakan is $81. 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 Koh Chang and Sandakan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Chang $28Sandakan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Chang $56Sandakan $46
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Sandakan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang or Sandakan? 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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices and Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Chang $15Sandakan $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang
Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $30
- Koh Chang to BKK or DMK Airport Private Transfers : $161
- Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $229
- Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $236
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sandakan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sandakan:
- Private 1Way Transfer to/from Sandakan Airport, City or Sepilok: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Sandakan?
Prices for flights to both Sandakan and Koh Chang 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 dayKoh Chang $33Sandakan $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
- Sandakan : Fireflies and Mangrove Cruise with Dinner: $193
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Chang $6.28Sandakan $8.15
Tours and Activities in Koh Chang
For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $25
- Snorkeling Adventure at Koh Chang – Departing from Koh Chang: $32
- PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $175
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Borneo : Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, and Sun Bear Tour: $338
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $230
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $260
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- From Sandakan to Kinabatangan River Safari Boat Cruise Day Tour: $163
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $75
- Full Day At Sepilok Orangutan, Sun Bear & Sandakan City Tour: $164
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Chang $5.38Sandakan $7.47
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Chang and Sandakan, we can see that Sandakan is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Chang Expensive? and Is Sandakan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Sandakan?
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 Koh Chang or Sandakan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Sandakan. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Sandakan. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. In the summer, Koh Chang often gets less sunshine than Sandakan. Koh Chang gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sandakan receives 221 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Sandakan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Chang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Sandakan averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Chang 28°C (82°F)Sandakan 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Sandakan in the Autumn?
Both Sandakan and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In October, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Sandakan. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 253 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sandakan during autumn. Koh Chang gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Sandakan receives 191 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Koh Chang is generally around the same temperature as Sandakan. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 27°C (81°F), and Sandakan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Chang 27°C (81°F)Sandakan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Sandakan in the Winter?
Both Sandakan and Koh Chang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
November to February is the dry season in Koh Chang. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Chang usually gets less rain in January than Sandakan. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Koh Chang. In the winter, Koh Chang often gets more sunshine than Sandakan. Koh Chang gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sandakan receives 156 hours of full sun.
Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Sandakan in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Sandakan fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Chang 26°C (79°F)Sandakan 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Sandakan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Sandakan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sandakan. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Sandakan receives 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In Koh Chang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sandakan during spring. Koh Chang gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Sandakan receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Sandakan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Chang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Sandakan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Chang 29°C (84°F)Sandakan 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Sandakan and Koh Chang
| Koh Chang | Sandakan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 513 mm (20.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 440 mm (17.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 514 mm (20.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 476 mm (18.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 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.