Which place is cheaper, Berlin or Kota Kinabalu?
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 Kota Kinabalu or Berlin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Berlin? 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: Kota Kinabalu or Berlin?
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.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesBerlin Prices
Germany Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Berlin $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Berlin is $205. 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 Kota Kinabalu and Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Berlin $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Berlin $150
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Berlin
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Berlin? 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices and Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Berlin $21
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket$1.64
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Bahn Ticket$3.52
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Short Taxi Ride$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Berlin Private Transfer to/from Berlin Brandenburg Airport: $57
- Private One way Airport Transfer Berlin To Berlin Airport: $63
- Listening Station Teufelsberg Tour with Transfer: $65
- Transfer from Berlin City Center to Berlin Brandenburg Airport: $76
- Transfer from Brandenburg Airport to Berlin City Center: $77
- Berlin to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) - Departure Transfer: $81
- Private Transfers from to Berlin Airport BER: $108
- Berlin Private Transfer from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Berlin City centre: $110
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Business Car: $118
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $120
- Private Transfer: Berlin to Brandenburg Airport BER in Luxury Car: $130
- Private Transfer: Berlin to Brandenburg Airport BER in Luxury Van: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin and Kota Kinabalu 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 dayKota Kinabalu $30Berlin $105
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
Typical Food Prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
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Sandwich and Coffee To Go$5.87
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Turkish Sandwich$2.35
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Currywurst$2.35
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2 Pho Noodles$11
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Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)$70
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Mauer Park (2)$13
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Coffees at Impala$9.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $32
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $39
- Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $53
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $84
- Berlin Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better : $85
- Vegan and Gluten-Free Dinner Experience: $88
- Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $92
- Street Food Tour with 10 Tastings: $93
- Berlin 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $93
- Vegetarian Berlin Food Tour Global Flavors in Alexanderplatz: $93
- True Berlin Street Food Tour – Global Flavors in Alexanderplatz: $98
- Berlin Street Food Tour by Bike: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Berlin $26
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Berlin Zoo (2)$23
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- Rude Walking Tour: $3.52
- Self Guided Tours Berlin With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.57
- Rude Bastards tour of Medieval Berlin: $3.58
- Berlin Third Reich Walking Tour: $4.78
- Berlin Highlights Walking Tour: $4.78
- Berlin's Museum Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Ku'damm Couture and Currywurst: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.48
- Berlin Wall: Greatest Escapes Self-Guided Walking Adventure: $5.96
- The Dönerkebab's History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Third Reich Quest Experience in Berlin: $7.16
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Berlin's Jewish Quarter: $7.99
- Berlin Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Berlin $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Show$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Berlin Pub Crawl: $24
- Original Pub Crawl Berlin: $24
- Night Pub Crawl Tour in Berlin Shots and Party: $30
- Beer hike in Berlin Experience brewery and craft beer: $66
- Showgirls of Burlesque Show: $76
- Culinary Journey and Wine Tasting in Kerstin's Wine Kitchen: $78
- New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl with Open Bar in Berlin: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Berlin, we can see that Berlin is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kota Kinabalu is in Asia and Berlin is in Europe, 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 Berlin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berlin 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 Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Berlin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Berlin?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Berlin, 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 Kota Kinabalu or Berlin?
Berlin 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 Kota Kinabalu or Berlin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Berlin. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Berlin in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Berlin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Berlin. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 227 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Berlin. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Berlin 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Berlin in the Autumn?
Both Berlin and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Berlin for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Berlin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Berlin fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Berlin during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 106 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Berlin. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Berlin 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Berlin in the Winter?
Both Berlin and Kota Kinabalu during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Berlin because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Berlin can be very cold. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Berlin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Berlin averages at about -0°C (31°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Berlin. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 42 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Berlin. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Berlin -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Berlin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Berlin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Berlin this time of year.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Berlin during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 160 hours of full sun in the spring.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Berlin. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Berlin 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Berlin and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Berlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 51 mm (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.