Which place is cheaper, Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik? 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 Dubrovnik?
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.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesDubrovnik Prices
Croatia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Dubrovnik $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Dubrovnik is $142. 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 Dubrovnik in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Dubrovnik $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Dubrovnik $118
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Dubrovnik
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik? 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 Dubrovnik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Dubrovnik $15
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 Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town$1.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Center: $18
- Lokrum Island Transfer with Panoramic Cruise from Dubrovnik: $18
- Koločep Island Boat Transfer: $23
- Sveti Jakov Beach Boat Transfer: $23
- Lopud Island Boat Transfer: $23
- Return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $27
- Convenient Bus Transfer from/to Split: $29
- Private return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $30
- From Dubrovnik Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $30
- Dubrovnik Luxury Airport Transfers: $32
- Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $34
- Private AirPort Transfer Dubrovnik by CRUISER TAXI: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik?
Prices for flights to both Dubrovnik 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 $30Dubrovnik $67
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 Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $82
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m above ground: $101
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik: $114
- Secret Food Tours in Dubrovnik: $118
- Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $143
- Old Town Food Tour: $157
- Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $167
- Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $226
- Traditional Dalmatian Cooking Class from Dubrovnik: $234
- Pelješac Full-Day Wine and Food Tour from Dubrovnik: $246
- Dubrovnik Food Tour with Friendly Local Guide: $279
- Dubrovnik Scenic Tour & Lunch/Dinner at Country Estate: $410
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Dubrovnik $22
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 Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)$16
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)$62
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)$53
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- Time Traveler’s Trail: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in Dubrovnik: $5.97
- Cavtat Old Town: Exploration Game and Tour: $5.97
- Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.68
- Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones self-guided tour with mobile app: $7.51
- Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour with Audioguide: $8.35
- Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $9.36
- Private Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Dubrovnik Old Town: $9.56
- Love Stories Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $11
- Red History Museum Regular Ticket: $11
- Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town: $12
- Walls of Liberty: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Dubrovnik: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Dubrovnik $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Dubrovnik Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting : $42
- Panoramic Dubrovnik Tour Golden Hour Sunset and Wine Tasting: $46
- Sunset and Wine / Dubrovnik Sunset Tour and Premium Wine Tasting : $59
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $70
- Sunset Wine Tasting At Panorama Point: $74
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Xperience: $80
- Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $82
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tour - Get to know local grapes: $84
- Luxury Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $84
- From Korcula Island Tour with Wine Tasting: $88
- Sunset wine tasting in vineyard: $92
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Dubrovnik, we can see that Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Dubrovnik, 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 Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Dubrovnik. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as Dubrovnik in the summer. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Dubrovnik. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Dubrovnik 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik in the Autumn?
Both Dubrovnik 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, many travelers come to Dubrovnik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Dubrovnik. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Dubrovnik averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dubrovnik. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Dubrovnik. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Dubrovnik 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik in the Winter?
Both Dubrovnik 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, many visitors come to Dubrovnik in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Dubrovnik. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 26°C (79°F), and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Dubrovnik gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Dubrovnik. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Dubrovnik 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Dubrovnik in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Dubrovnik. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, most visitors come to Dubrovnik for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Dubrovnik in the spring. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Dubrovnik receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dubrovnik. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Dubrovnik 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Dubrovnik and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Dubrovnik | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 178 mm (7 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.