Which place is cheaper, San Jose 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 San Jose?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or San Jose? 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 San Jose?
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.
San Jose
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is likely to be your first and last stop in a visit to the country. The city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, making for a beautiful flight in. The city has an elevation of 1200 meters and sits on a plateau with a beautiful backdrop of lush green forest. Half of the people in Costa Rica reside in the country's capital city. You are likely to stay only a day or two, but there are a handful of things to do and see including museums and markets. You will also find many embassies, as well as the University of Costa Rica in San Jose.
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 Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesSan Jose Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68San Jose $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in San Jose is $103. 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 San Jose in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21San Jose $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42San Jose $98
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and San Jose
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or San Jose? 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 San Jose Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25San Jose $19
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
- Malaysia: Sabah Airport Transfer: $14
- 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: $76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Jose
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
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Taxi from SJO$25
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Local Bus$2.72
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Jose
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from San José airport to San José hotels: $29
- Private San José Airport Transfer to San José Hotels : $40
- Private Transfer from City - San Jose Airport (SJO): $43
- Private One-way Transfer from San Jose to Juan Santamaria Airport: $45
- Private One-way Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport to San Jose: $45
- Private Transfer from San Jose to La Fortuna de Arenal: $46
- Transfer from San Jose to Arenal-La Fortuna San Carlos: $48
- Arrival Transfer San Jose Airport SJO to San Jose City by Minivan: $50
- Private Transfer from San Jose Airport One Way: $56
- San Jose to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) – Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Transfer 1 to 3 Pax Juan Santamaria Airport to SJO Hotels : $60
- Private transfer from San Jose-Heredia-Alajuela Hotels to International Airport: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or San Jose?
Prices for flights to both San Jose 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 $30San Jose $31
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Jose
For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour including Markets: $34
- San Jose By Night: Farm to Table Dinner, Cooking & Cocktail Class: $47
- San Jose Cooking Classes visit Central Market: $52
- Bites and Sights Walking Food Tour and National Museum : $65
- San Jose By Night: Sights & Culture Tour with Local Dinner : $80
- Dinner + Typical dance show at the best viewpoint in San José: $92
- Street Food Tour in San Jose with a Local Guide: $114
- Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch and Dinner: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43San Jose $21
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
- Dreamer Island Snorkeling Day Tour: $63
- 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
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Tours and Activities in San Jose
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hiking Experience in El Quetzal Private Reserve: $26
- Sarapiqui Frog Experience: Night Experience in the Jungle.: $30
- Private Guided Tour of Cheese in Canaan de Rivas: $30
- Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffe Tour: $31
- 2-Hour Orosi Nocturnal Tour: $33
- Sarapiqui Rainforest Night Walk : Wildlife & Adventure.: $35
- San Jose ART Walking Tour - small groups, creative experience: $35
- San Jose Walking Nature Tour: Sloths, Birds and Trees: $35
- Skip the Line: Rescate Wildlife Rescue Centre General Admission Ticket: $35
- San Jose : Private Custom Guided Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $36
- San Jose Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $36
- Corso Lecheria Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18San Jose $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and San Jose, we can see that San Jose 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 San Jose is in Central America, 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 San Jose would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Jose 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 San Jose Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or San Jose?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and San Jose, 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 San Jose?
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 San Jose in the Summer?
Both San Jose 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.
San Jose 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 more rain in July than San Jose. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in July average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)San Jose 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or San Jose in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and San Jose. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in San Jose. San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than San Jose. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Kota Kinabalu is generally around the same temperature as San Jose. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or San Jose in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as San Jose. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as San Jose in the winter. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)San Jose 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or San Jose in the Spring?
Both San Jose 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. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in San Jose is December to April. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season. It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than San Jose. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Jose. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Jose during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Kota Kinabalu is around the same temperature as San Jose. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in April average around 28°C (82°F), and San Jose averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)San Jose 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for San Jose and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | San Jose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.