Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sandakan or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Sandakan Prices
Malaysia PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySandakan $81Zhangjiajie $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Sandakan is $81, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSandakan $23Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSandakan $46Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Sandakan and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Sandakan or Zhangjiajie? 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 $37Zhangjiajie $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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $322
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Is it cheaper to fly into Sandakan or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $36Zhangjiajie $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sandakan $8.15Zhangjiajie $23
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: $82
- 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 Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
- Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Private or Shared Day Tour: $50
- Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
- Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
- One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
- Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69
- Mini Group Day Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySandakan $7.47Zhangjiajie $16
When comparing the travel costs between Sandakan and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Sandakan 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sandakan or Zhangjiajie?
Sandakan has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Sandakan and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sandakan as well as Zhangjiajie. Sandakan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sandakan is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie in the summer. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Sandakan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sandakan usually gets more rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Sandakan gets 195 mm (7.7 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySandakan 27°C (81°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie and Sandakan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sandakan throughout the year.
In the autumn, Sandakan is a little warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sandakan in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 19°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Sandakan. In October, Sandakan usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Sandakan gets 253 mm (10 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSandakan 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie and Sandakan during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sandakan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Sandakan is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Sandakan average around 26°C (80°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sandakan. Sandakan usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Sandakan gets 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySandakan 26°C (80°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Sandakan or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sandakan and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sandakan year-round.
Sandakan is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the spring. The daily temperature in Sandakan averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. Sandakan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Sandakan usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Sandakan gets 107 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSandakan 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Sandakan
| Sandakan | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (80°F) | 437 mm (17.2 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 268 mm (10.6 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 195 mm (7.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 253 mm (10 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 462 mm (18.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.