A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kota Kinabalu vs. Odense for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kota Kinabalu or Odense?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Odense? 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 Odense?

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.

Odense

Odense is the largest city on the island of Funen in Denmark. With a population of over 180,000, it is the third largest city in Denmark as a whole and sometimes is known as the unofficial capital. This city is the birthplace of the famous fairytale writer, Hans Christian Andersen.

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 Copenhagen, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Denmark.


Which place is cheaper, Odense 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Odense is $218. 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 Odense in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kota Kinabalu $21
    Odense $88
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kota Kinabalu $42
    Odense $176
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Odense

Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Odense? 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.

Hotels in Kota Kinabalu


Hotels in Odense


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 Odense Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kota Kinabalu $25
    Odense $48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:

  • Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) Private Transfer to Kota Kinabalu: $13
  • Kota Kinabalu(BKI): Private Transfer to City Center: $14
  • Malaysia: Sabah Airport Transfer: $14
  • Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
  • Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • 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
  • Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
  • Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38

Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Odense?

Prices for flights to both Odense 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kota Kinabalu $30
    Odense $97

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kota Kinabalu $6.43
    Odense $32

Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:

  • Bongawan Proboscis and Fireflies Cruise Tour: $32
  • Sail and Catch Boat fishing Tour of the Coast of Kota Kinabalu: $41
  • Night Glow Stand Up Paddle Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $44
  • Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
  • Mangrove Kayaking Experience in Borneo: $47
  • Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
  • Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
  • Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
  • Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
  • Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $54
  • Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
  • Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55

Tours and Activities in Odense

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Odense are as follows:

  • Craft Beer Walking Tour: $62
  • Odense Private Guided Walking Tour: $382

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kota Kinabalu $7.18
    Odense $24


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Odense, we can see that Odense 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 Odense 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 Odense would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Odense 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 Odense Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Odense?

Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Odense. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Odense, 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.