Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Sandakan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Sandakan or Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Seoul? 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 Seoul?
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.
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
-
Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $128. 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 Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Seoul $54
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Seoul? 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 Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Seoul $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 Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
-
Subway Card$3.58
-
Short Taxi Ride$5.01
-
Metro Ride$0.97
-
Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul hotels: $80
- Private Airport Transfer Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) to Seoul City: $83
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer to/from Seoul(1~7pax): $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul 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
-
Food Meals for one daySandakan $36Seoul $51
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 Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
-
Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
-
Waffle$0.72
-
Dippin' Dots$1.43
-
Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
-
Chicken Stick$1.43
-
Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
-
Lunch Buffet$4.30
-
Donut$0.72
-
Mushroom Burger$3.72
-
Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
-
Udon & Sushi$5.01
-
Fresh Burger$3.44
-
Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
-
Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
-
Fried Rice$3.94
-
Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
-
Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
-
Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Seoul $26
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
-
Palace Tickets$5.73
-
Movie Ticket$5.73
-
Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour : $3.58
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Gwanghwamun Tour about Korean Society and Local Mindset: $11
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $11
- SPAREX Jjimjilbang Sauna Dongmyo branch Admission Ticket(내국인불가): $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $12
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sandakan and Seoul, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Sandakan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Seoul, 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 Seoul?
Seoul 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 Seoul in the Summer?
Both Seoul and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Seoul for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Seoul in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during summer. Sandakan gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In July, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Seoul. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul and Sandakan during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Seoul in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In the autumn, Sandakan is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Seoul averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Sandakan often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Seoul. Sandakan gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 204 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in October than Seoul. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Seoul in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Seoul can be very cold during winter. In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Sandakan usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Seoul during winter. Sandakan gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Seoul. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Seoul. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Seoul because of the activities around the city.
Sandakan is much warmer than Seoul in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sandakan this time of the year. In the spring, Sandakan often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Sandakan gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun.
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan usually gets more rain in April than Seoul. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.