Which place is cheaper, Nelson 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 Nelson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Nelson? 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 Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesNelson Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Nelson $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $114. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Nelson? 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 Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Nelson $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
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $36Nelson $47
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 $8.15Nelson $23
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 Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $28
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $55
- Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $62
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $64
- Skywire Adventure at Cable Bay, Nelson: $65
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $69
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $71
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $74
- Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
- Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $231
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Nelson?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Nelson, 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.