Which place is cheaper, Wellington 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 Wellington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Wellington? 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 Wellington?
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.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesWellington Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $68Wellington $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $68, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $124. 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 Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Wellington $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Wellington $120
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu or Wellington? 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 Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $25Wellington $12
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 Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $57
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- WLG Airport to City Private RoundTrip Transfer: $93
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington 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 $30Wellington $51
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 Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.43Wellington $16
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
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.95
- Wellington Zoo General Entry Tickets: $15
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Entry Ticket: $28
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Creative Classes Experience Ticket: $32
- Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington: $33
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Zealandia by Day Tour: $37
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.18Wellington $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $99
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $168
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $391
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kota Kinabalu and Wellington, we can see that Wellington 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 Wellington 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Wellington?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu and Wellington, 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 Wellington?
Wellington 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 Wellington in the Summer?
Both Wellington 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. Also, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.
In July, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Wellingtonin January. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 27°C (81°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Wellington, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. In the summer, Kota Kinabalu often gets less sunshine than Wellingtonin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 242 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 Wellingtonin January. Kota Kinabalu gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Wellington 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Wellington in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kota Kinabalu and Wellington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round. Also, many travelers come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Wellington in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kota Kinabalu averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Wellington fluctuates around 15°C (58°F)in April.
Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during autumn. Kota Kinabalu gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 163 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 Wellingtonin April. Kota Kinabalu gets 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)Wellington 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Wellington in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kota Kinabalu as well as Wellington. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Wellington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu is much warmer than Wellington. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kota Kinabalu in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Wellington averages at about 10°C (49°F)in July.
In the winter, Kota Kinabalu often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Wellington. Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kota Kinabalu usually gets more rain in January than Wellingtonin July. Kota Kinabalu gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)Wellington 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu or Wellington in the Spring?
Both Wellington 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, most visitors come to Wellington for the beaches during these months.
In April, Kota Kinabalu is generally much warmer than Wellingtonin October. Daily temperatures in Kota Kinabalu average around 28°C (82°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during spring. Kota Kinabalu gets 237 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Kota Kinabalu usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin October. Kota Kinabalu gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)Wellington 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Wellington and Kota Kinabalu
| Kota Kinabalu | Wellington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.