Which place is cheaper, Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads? 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 Noosa Heads?
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.
Noosa Heads
A town and suburb located on Queensland, Australia's Sunshine Coast, Noosa is best known as a destination of pleasant weather, beautiful beachside scenery, shopping, dining, and outdoor adventure. Some of the top attractions of the area include Noosa National Park and Sunshine Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesNoosa Heads Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Noosa Heads $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Noosa Heads is $135. 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 Noosa Heads in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Noosa Heads $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Noosa Heads $116
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Noosa Heads
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads? 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 Noosa Heads Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Noosa Heads $17
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Noosa Heads
Also for Noosa Heads, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Eumundi Markets Bus Transfer: Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast & Noosa : $32
- Australia Zoo Transfer from Noosa and Sunshine Coast: $91
- Private Morning Transfer From Noosa to Rainbow Beach: $91
- Private Transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa (2pax): $97
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 11 pax: $238
- Private Transfer from Sunshine Coast Airport to Hotels 13 pax: $262
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads?
Prices for flights to both Noosa Heads 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 $30Noosa Heads $58
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Classes on Witta Maleny Sunshine Coast: $121
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Noosa Heads $40
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 Noosa Heads
For Noosa Heads, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Surf Lesson$43
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Sea Kayak Tour (for 2)$85
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Sunset Cruise (for 2)$13
Tours and Activities in Noosa Heads
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Noosa Heads.
- Noosa Queen Sunset Cruise River: $22
- 1 Hour Tour Mooloolaba Sunset Cruise: $24
- The Original 1-Hour Mooloolaba Canal Cruise: $24
- SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium Entrance Ticket: $26
- Maleny Botanic Gardens Bird Aviary Experience Ticket: $32
- Sunset Cruise Mooloolaba: $33
- Aquaduck Sunshine Coast - 1hr Mooloolaba Amphibious Tour: $34
- The Ginger Factory Play, Taste & Discover Bundle Experience: $36
- Stillwater Luxury Noosa Sunset Cruise : $37
- Noosa Stand Up Paddle & Mangrove Tunnel Tour (Self Guided): $39
- Seafood Lunch Cruise: $46
- Sunshine Coast Adventure Park TreeTop Challenge: $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Noosa Heads $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Noosa Heads
Also in Noosa Heads, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sunshine Coast Bar Crawl Sippin on Sunshine: $15
- Sunshine Coast Brewery Tour with Lunch: $164
- Hinterland Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour - with 2 course lunch included: $188
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Noosa Heads, we can see that Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads is in Pacific, 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 Noosa Heads would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Noosa Heads. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Noosa Heads, 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 Noosa Heads?
Noosa Heads 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 Noosa Heads in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Noosa Heads. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally a little warmer than Noosa Headsin January. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
It's quite rainy in Noosa Heads. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Noosa Headsin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Noosa Heads 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads in the Autumn?
Both Noosa Heads 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, the autumn months attract visitors to Noosa Heads because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Noosa Heads in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads in the Winter?
Both Noosa Heads 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Noosa Heads this time of year.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Noosa Heads. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Noosa Heads averages at about 7°C (44°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Noosa Headsin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 57 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Noosa Heads 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Noosa Heads in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Noosa Heads. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Noosa Heads for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Noosa Headsin October. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Noosa Heads fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Noosa Headsin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Noosa Heads receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Noosa Heads 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Noosa Heads and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Noosa Heads | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 117 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.