Which place is cheaper, Hobart 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 Hobart?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Hobart? 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 Hobart?
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.
Hobart
Hobart is the capital city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. It is small compared to the mainland's larger cities and has a cooler climate with four distinct seasons. Hobart is also the second oldest capital, behind Sydney, with remnants of its past visible in old sandstone warehouses now home to cafes and galleries, as well as a historic district with narrow lanes and colonial-era cottages.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesHobart Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Hobart $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Hobart is $156. 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 Hobart in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Hobart $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Hobart $154
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Hobart
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Hobart? 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 Hobart Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Hobart $28
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hobart
Also for Hobart, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hobart Airport: Express Bus Transfer to Hobart City: $15
- Grand Cayman Shared Airport Transfer: $40
- George Town / 7- Mile Beach area to George Town Port -Departure Private Transfer: $152
- George Town Port to Owen Roberts Airport (GCM) - Departure Private Transfer: $152
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Hobart?
Prices for flights to both Hobart 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 $36Hobart $49
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Hobart $23
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
Tours and Activities in Hobart
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hobart.
- Admission Ticket to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary: $23
- Morning River Cruise: $23
- 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Ticket: $30
- From Mt Wellington Pinnacle 2 Hour Small Group Tour: $36
- 48 Hour Hobart City Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $36
- 3-Hour City Sightseeing Tour: $40
- Mt Wellington Ultimate Afternoon Tour: $40
- Historic Lunch Cruise: $43
- Mount Wellington and Hobart Sightseeing Combo Ticket: $53
- Rum and Beer Tour with Lunch: $65
- nipaluna Half-Day Highlights Tour: $65
- Historic Richmond Village Half-Day Coach Tour: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Hobart $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Hobart
Also in Hobart, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cascade Brewery Historic Tour: $16
- Cascade Brewery Experience: $26
- Signature Wine Tour - Hobart & SE Tasmania: $145
- Moorilla's Big Day Out at Mona - Wine Tasting and Lunch: $165
- Tasmania: Private Distillers Reserve Distillery Tour: $224
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Hobart, we can see that Hobart 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 Hobart 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 Hobart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hobart 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 Hobart Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Hobart?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Hobart. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Hobart, 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 Hobart?
Hobart 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 Hobart in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Hobart. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Hobart for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Sandakan is much warmer than Hobart in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Hobart fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hobart. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the summer, Sandakan often gets less sunshine than Hobartin January. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hobart receives 259 hours of full sun.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Hobartin January. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySandakan 27°C (81°F)Hobart 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Hobart in the Autumn?
Both Hobart 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, the autumn months attract visitors to Hobart because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Hobart. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Hobart averages at about 14°C (57°F)in April.
Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hobart during autumn. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Hobart receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Hobartin April. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Hobart 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Hobart in the Winter?
Both Hobart 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, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hobart this time of year.
In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Hobartin July. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Hobart fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
In the winter, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hobartin July. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hobart receives 152 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Hobartin July. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySandakan 26°C (80°F)Hobart 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Hobart in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Hobart. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
Sandakan is much warmer than Hobart in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Hobart fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hobart this time of the year. In Sandakan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Hobart during spring. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Hobart receives 209 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 Hobartin October. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Hobart 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Hobart and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Hobart | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.