Travel budget and cost of living in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) how much does a trip cost?

Kota Kinabalu travel budget

Kota Kinabalu: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Kota Kinabalu

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Kota Kinabalu for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Kota Kinabalu compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Kota Kinabalu in 2024 is 58% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Kota Kinabalu in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Kota Kinabalu by expense type

Restaurant budget in Kota Kinabalu

Lunch

$ 3.4/person
($ 2.7 to $ 5.6)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 13/person
($ 6.7 to $ 26)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 37

McDonald's meal

$ 5.6/person
($ 4 to $ 6.7)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 2.6 for 500ml
($ 2.2 to $ 3.4)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Imported beer

$ 1.6 for 330ml
( $ 1.6)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 2.6/cup
($ 1.8 to $ 5.9)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 0.7/can
($ 0.6 to $ 2)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 2)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Kota Kinabalu

1-star hotel

$ 37/night
($ 14 to $ 219)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164

2-star hotel

$ 39/night
($ 12 to $ 360)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 152

3-star hotel

$ 58/night
($ 16 to $ 393)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222

4-star hotel

$ 67/night
($ 28 to $ 265)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305

5-star hotel

$ 153/night
($ 74 to $ 365)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 457

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 37/month
($ 14 to $ 205)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162

Room with kitchen

$ 77/month
($ 16 to $ 392)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 236

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 101/month
($ 31 to $ 442)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 202

Cottage or guest house

$ 65/month
($ 34 to $ 311)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222

Family room

$ 119/month
($ 18 to $ 1157)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 200

Supermarket food budget in Kota Kinabalu

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 3.6)

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55% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 1/500g
($ 1 to $ 1.3)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Rice

$ 0.9/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.2)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Eggs

$ 2.9/12 eggs
($ 1.4 to $ 4)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Chicken

$ 4.2/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 5)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Apples

$ 1.7/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 3.1)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Tomatoes

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 2.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Potatoes

$ 0.9/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 0.4
($ 0.3 to $ 0.8)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Kota Kinabalu

Bus ticket

$ 1.5/ticket
($ 1.2 to $ 1.8)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.4/km
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 0.4/litre
($ 0.4 to $ 0.4)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.8
( $ 1.8)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Car hire

$ 35/24hrs
($ 28 to $ 48)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 70

Leisure activity budget in Kota Kinabalu

Cinema

$ 4/ticket
($ 3.8 to $ 5.6)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 1.2/hr
( $ 1.2)

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94% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Kota Kinabalu

Cigarettes

$ 4.6/pack
($ 3.9 to $ 5.6)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 57
($ 34 to $ 92)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52

Summer dress

$ 23
($ 14 to $ 34)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

Plane ticket budget

London → Kota Kinabalu

$ 964
(fair price: $ 816)

Melbourne → Kota Kinabalu

$ 589
(fair price: $ 500)

Sydney → Kota Kinabalu

$ 629
(fair price: $ 524)

Auckland → Kota Kinabalu

$ 988
(fair price: $ 801)

Manchester → Kota Kinabalu

$ 1136
(fair price: $ 920)

Vancouver → Kota Kinabalu

$ 1492
(fair price: $ 1174)

Book a flight Flight prices to Kota Kinabalu