Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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.
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesNadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Nadi (Port Denarau) $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Nadi (Port Denarau)
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81
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 Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Private Transfer-Nadi International Airport to Hotels : $6.86
- Private Car Transfer to Nadi International Airport: $8.24
- Private Departure Transfer To Nadi Airport From Your Hotel: $9.12
- Private Departure Transfer From Your Hotel To Nadi Airport (cfc approved): $9.12
- Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.15
- Shared Shuttle Arrival Transfer - Nadi Airport/ Port to Hotel: $9.15
- Private Transfer from Nadi Intl Airport to Sheraton Fiji Resort : $11
- Port Denarau Island from Your Resort (Private Transfer): $12
- Private Departure Transfer to Nadi Airport from Your Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer Nadi Airport to or from Hotel or Resort: $13
- Nadi Airport Transfer :Nadi Airport to All Nadi & Denarau Island/ Vuda Hotels: $14
- Private Transfer: Nadi Int Airport - Denarau Island Hotels: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 $36Nadi (Port Denarau) $69
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 $8.15Nadi (Port Denarau) $32
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
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- Nadi Sightseeing Including Viseisei Lookout, Village Tour, Garden & Temple Tour: $70
- Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool Tour: $73
- Shore Excursion-Wonders of Nadi Sightseeing Tour-Temple,Gardens,Markets&Shopping: $77
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Nadi Therapeutic Mud Pools and Garden Tour - Shore Excursions EX PORT DENARAU: $82
- Nadi Heritage Tour : $82
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Fiji Lautoka Shore Excursions Tour : $92
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Nadi Sightseeing & Mud Pool Tour - Ex Fiji Marriott, Momi Bay: $100
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Nadi (Port Denarau) $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.
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.