Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Turku?
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 Turku or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Kota Kinabalu, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Turku or Kota Kinabalu?
Turku
Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Turku Prices
Finland PricesKota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €159Kota Kinabalu €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €159, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is €57. 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 Turku and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Kota Kinabalu €17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Kota Kinabalu €34
Compare Hotels in Turku and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Turku or Kota Kinabalu? 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: Turku Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Kota Kinabalu €21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $80
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Borneo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $53
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Sunrise/Sunset Tour at Kota Kinabalu with transfer: $32
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $25
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $25
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Turku 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 dayTurku €56Kota Kinabalu €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $138
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Turku €22Kota Kinabalu €5.46
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Experience Turku with a local guide: $287
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies : $49
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Day Trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring Guided Tour: $70
- Dreamer Island Snorkeling Day Tour: $63
- From Kota Kinabalu : Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal: $66
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $55
- Indigenous Weaving Experience: $236
- Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu: $100
- Kinabalu National Park Tour: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTurku €12Kota Kinabalu €6.10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Turku is in Europe and Kota Kinabalu is in Asia, 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 Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku than you might in Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Turku Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Kota Kinabalu, 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 Turku or Kota Kinabalu?
Turku has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Turku or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Turku during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
In the summer, Turku is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Turku usually gets less rain in July than Kota Kinabalu. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Turku or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Turku is generally much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Turku usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Turku usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Turku or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Turku as well as Kota Kinabalu. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
The weather in Turku can be very cold. Turku is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In the winter, Turku often gets less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Turku usually gets less rain in January than Kota Kinabalu. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Turku or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Turku in the spring. In the spring, Turku is much colder than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Kota Kinabalu. Turku usually receives less sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Turku
| Turku | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 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.