Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Koh Pha Ngan $15
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 Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $36Koh Pha Ngan $20
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 Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Koh Pha Ngan $19
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $60
- Private Sandakan City Must See 6 Highlights Tour with Guide & Car: $63
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $75
- Sukau Rainforest Wildlife and Dawn Cruises Tour in Sandakan: $83
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Sandakan Private City Tour Orangutan Sun Bears and Rainforest: $89
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Sukau Rainforest Wildlife Journey & Dawn Cruises: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Koh Pha Ngan $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Sandakan is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan than you might in Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sandakan usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Koh Pha Ngan. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Sandakan is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Sandakan is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sandakan in January average around 26°C (80°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Sandakan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.