Which place is cheaper, Hofn 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 Hofn?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Hofn? 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 Hofn?
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.
Hofn
Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesHofn Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Hofn $207
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Hofn is $207. 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 Hofn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Hofn $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Hofn $226
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Hofn
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Hofn? 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 Hofn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Hofn $31
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
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Transfer from 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 Kota Kinabalu or Hofn?
Prices for flights to both Hofn 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 $30Hofn $73
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Hofn $20
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
Tours and Activities in Hofn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.
- Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $157
- The Orignal Ice Cave Tour in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: $164
- Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170
- Crystal Ice Cave Tour from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: $182
- Frozen Wonders : Small Group Ice Cave Tour: $200
- Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $203
- 3 Hours Blue Ice Experience in Vatnajokull : $214
- Sindri’s Ice Cave Photography Tour: A Local’s Perspective: $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Hofn $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Hofn, we can see that Hofn 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 Hofn 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 Hofn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hofn 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 Hofn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Hofn?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 270 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Hofn, 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 Hofn?
Hofn 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 Hofn in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Hofn. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Hofn. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Hofn fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Hofn. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Hofn 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Hofn in the Autumn?
Both Hofn 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.
Hofn can be very cold during autumn. Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Hofn in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Hofn fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hofn. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Hofn. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 153 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Hofn 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Hofn in the Winter?
Both Hofn 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.
The weather in Hofn can be very cold. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Hofn. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Hofn averages at about -0°C (31°F).
Hofn 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 Hofn. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Hofn -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Hofn in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Hofn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
It's quite cold in Hofn in the spring. In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Hofn. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Hofn fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Hofn. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Hofn receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Hofn 2°C (36°F)
Typical Weather for Hofn and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Hofn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 124 mm (4.9 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.