Which place is cheaper, Xiamen 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 Xiamen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Xiamen? 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 Xiamen?
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.
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesXiamen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Xiamen $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $84. 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 Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Xiamen $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Xiamen $62
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Xiamen? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sandakan $37Xiamen $6.08
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 Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $25
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen 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 $36Xiamen $46
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 $8.15Xiamen $16
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: $75
- 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 Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sailing & Sea Experience.: $22
- Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple & Luoyang Bridge Tour: $70
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $115
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- Shanghai Metro Tour: $127
- Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $135
- Tour Guide and Car: Private Day Tour to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village from Xiamen: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Xiamen $17
When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sandakan Expensive? and Is Xiamen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Xiamen, 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 Xiamen?
Xiamen 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 Xiamen in the Summer?
Both Xiamen and Sandakan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Sandakan is around the same temperature as Xiamen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sandakan in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Xiamen averages at about 30°C (86°F).
Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Xiamen. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Xiamen 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Xiamen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
In October, Sandakan is generally a little warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 28°C (82°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Xiamen 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Xiamen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Xiamen. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sandakan is much warmer than Xiamen in the winter. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 26°C (80°F) in January, and Xiamen fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Xiamen. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Xiamen 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Xiamen in the Spring?
Both Xiamen and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
In the spring, Sandakan is a little warmer than Xiamen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sandakan in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Xiamen averages at about 20°C (69°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In April, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Xiamen. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Xiamen 20°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Xiamen and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Xiamen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (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.