Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao?
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.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesKoh Tao Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Koh Tao $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $50. 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 Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Koh Tao $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Koh Tao $9.98
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.97
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$20
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $30Koh Tao $18
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$6.28
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Breakfast$4.71
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.77
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
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Pancake$2.20
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American Breakfast (for Two)$8.79
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class with Sea View from Koh Tao : $51
- Memorable Thai Cooking Class with Stunning View from Koh Tao : $55
- Private Thai Cooking Class at Rooftop Kitchen on Koh Tao: $208
- Koh Tao Private Rooftop Thai Cooking Class with Scenic View: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Koh Tao $30
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$7.85
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Snorkel Rental$3.14
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$3.14
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $24
- Amazing 5 Point Snorkeling Tour in Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $24
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $27
- Snorkelling Trip 5 Island Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nang yuan: $27
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $27
- No Rush Morning & Afternoon 5 Stop Snorkeling tour for Koh Tao: $27
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
- Koh Tao Top Crystal Clear Snorkeling Day Tour by Big Boat : $27
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Koh Tao's First Light Snorkel Adventure with Oxygen Tours: $32
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37
- CocoTipAdventures and Snorkel with Meals-BBQs-Cocktail-Sunset: $54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Koh Tao $8.22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$2.04
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Bottle of Wine$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Koh Tao, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao.
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 Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 330 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Koh Tao, 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 Koh Tao?
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 Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
Both Koh Tao 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. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Koh Tao is October and November. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Koh Tao in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Koh Tao | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.