Which place is cheaper, Brisbane or Sandakan?
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 Sandakan or Brisbane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Brisbane? 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: Sandakan or Brisbane?
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesBrisbane Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Brisbane $154
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Brisbane is $154. 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 Sandakan and Brisbane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Brisbane $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Brisbane $162
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Brisbane
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Brisbane? 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: Sandakan Hotel Prices and Brisbane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Brisbane $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sandakan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sandakan:
- Private 1Way Transfer to/from Sandakan Airport, City or Sepilok: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City$9.81
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Go Card$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Brisbane: $22
- BNE Airport to City | Gold Coast Private Transfer: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer: Brisbane Airport to Hotel: $54
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $55
- Secrets St Lucia Airport Transfer: $58
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Sunshine Coast: $59
- Luxury Airport Transfer Gold Coast-Brisbane / Brisbane-Gold Coast: $60
- Brisbane to Brisbane Airport (BNE) - Departure Private Transfer: $84
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane - Arrival Private Transfer: $84
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Brisbane hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- NOOSA: Private Transfer to/fro Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY): $96
- UVF Luxury Transfer To Secrets St. Lucia Roundtrip: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Brisbane?
Prices for flights to both Brisbane and Sandakan 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 daySandakan $36Brisbane $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
- Sandakan : Fireflies and Mangrove Cruise with Dinner: $193
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch$5.23
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Cup of Coffee$1.96
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Chinese Food Lunch$8.18
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Ice cream$3.60
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Japanese Meal$14
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Smoothie$4.25
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Japanese Soup$7.52
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Coffee & Muffin$4.58
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Morning Mint Tea$2.29
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Veggie Burger & Chips$9.16
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Bread$1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Gold Coast: Glow Worms, Sunset & Stargazing with BBQ dinner: $117
- Vertigo Dinner – Dining on the Edge: $165
- Dinner on the Edge with Vertigo Brisbane: $168
- Local Icons Food Tour: $353
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Brisbane $24
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Borneo : Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey, and Sun Bear Tour: $338
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $230
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $260
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- From Sandakan to Kinabatangan River Safari Boat Cruise Day Tour: $163
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $82
- Full Day At Sepilok Orangutan, Sun Bear & Sandakan City Tour: $164
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- Escape to Coochiemudlo Island: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Tour, Taste & Camel Encounter: $17
- True Crime Tour: $22
- Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $22
- Winery Tour and Tasting: $23
- Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $26
- Moonlight State Fortitude Valley Crime Tour Crime Tours Australia: $26
- Adventure Theme Scavenger Hunt Experience in Brisbane: $27
- Solve a Detective Case in a themed adventure: $31
- Our Finest Hour An Escape Hunt Experience: $32
- Blackbeard's Treasure - An Escape Hunt Experience: $32
- Alice In Puzzleland an Escape Hunt Brisbane Experience: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Brisbane $50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar$9.81
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Sixpack of Beer$9.16
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Guiness Beer$5.56
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Sixpack of Beer$8.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Brewery Tour: $25
- Hop on Hop off Brewery Adventure : $66
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High Speed Boat Tour in Brisbane : $101
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $107
- Hop on Hop off Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $110
- Island Pub Crawl with Lunch and High-Speed Boat: $115
- Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour : $134
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $140
- Gold Coast Full Day Brewery Tour: $140
- Deluxe Wine Tour to Tamborine Mountain, includes two course lunch: $148
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $165
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $168
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Brisbane, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sandakan is in Asia and Brisbane 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 Sandakan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sandakan 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane than you might in Sandakan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Brisbane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Brisbane?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Brisbane, 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 Sandakan or Brisbane?
Brisbane has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Sandakan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sandakan or Brisbane in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Brisbane. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Brisbane for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Brisbane. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Brisbane averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the summer, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Brisbanein January. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brisbane receives 256 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Brisbane. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Brisbanein January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Brisbane 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Brisbane in the Autumn?
Both Brisbane and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Brisbane in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
In October, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Brisbanein April. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Brisbane fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
It's quite sunny in Brisbane. Sandakan usually receives less sunshine than Brisbane during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Brisbane receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Brisbane. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Brisbanein April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Brisbane 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Brisbane in the Winter?
Both Brisbane and Sandakan during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Brisbane for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Sandakan is much warmer than Brisbane in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Brisbane fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.
In Brisbane, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Brisbanein July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brisbane receives 226 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Brisbanein July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Brisbane 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Brisbane in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Brisbane. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Brisbane because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Sandakan is a little warmer than Brisbane. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Brisbane averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Brisbane this time of the year. In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Brisbane during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Brisbane receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Brisbanein October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Brisbane receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Brisbane 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Brisbane and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Brisbane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 127 mm (5 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.