Which place is cheaper, Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik? 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 Reykjavik?
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.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesReykjavik Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Reykjavik $307
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $307. 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 Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Reykjavik $160
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Reykjavik $320
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Reykjavik
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik? 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 Reykjavik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Reykjavik $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $30
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavík and Reykjavik Center: $31
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City one way: $31
- Airport Express Shared Departure transfer from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport: $31
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavik and Reykjavik Hotels: $40
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport with Hotel Pick Up: $42
- Private Transfers in Iceland: $45
- Private Transfer to Sky Lagoon from Reykjavik Keflavik: $49
- Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $51
- Blue Lagoon Transfer from/to Keflavik International Airport: $58
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Skálafell - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
- Skálafell to Reykjavik Airport (RKV) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Reykjavík/Keflavík–Blue Lagoon, Silica & Retreat Transfer: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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 $30Reykjavik $60
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 Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $143
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $145
- 3 Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $195
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $215
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Reykjavik $83
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 Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$34
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Reykjavik Viking Roots to Modern Marvels Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket: $30
- Northern Lights: Aurora Basecamp Observatory Guided Experience: $30
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula: $32
- Saga Museum - Entrance ticket: $32
- Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon Self-Guided Driving Tour: $34
- Reykjavik Escape Game Experience - Prison Break 1: $45
- Reykjavík Shared Tuk Tuk Tour: $50
- Walking tour of Reykjavik city: $51
- Lava Show Reykjavik Admission Ticket - Optional Premium Upgrade : $55
- Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour: Meet the Elves, Trolls & Ghosts of Iceland: $55
- Classic Puffin Watching Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Reykjavik $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Gin Distillery tour and tasting with Master Distiller: $35
- Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik?
Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik in the Summer?
Both Reykjavik and Kota Kinabalu during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Reykjavik in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Reykjavik averages at about 11°C (52°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 171 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in July than Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Reykjavik 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Reykjavik. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Reykjavik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Reykjavik can be very cold during autumn. In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 83 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Reykjavik 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Reykjavik in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Reykjavik fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 27 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Reykjavik -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Reykjavik in the Spring?
Both Reykjavik and Kota Kinabalu are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Reykjavik this time of year.
It's quite cold in Reykjavik in the spring. In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Reykjavik averages at about 3°C (38°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 140 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Reykjavik. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Reykjavik 3°C (38°F)
Typical Weather for Reykjavik and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Reykjavik | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.