Kota Kinabalu: Affordable Overseas Adventure for Budget Travelers

The prices in Kota Kinabalu are incredibly affordable. The most you’ll pay for a taxi ride is just 13 RM, and even a lavish seafood feast for two will set you back only 220 RMB. A direct flight from Wuhan costs 680 RMB, while the return trip to Hong Kong is over 200 RMB. All in all, including flights, accommodation, meals, and entertainment, but excluding shopping, the total expense was 2600 RMB.

🍜 Eating and Drinking
1. For an unforgettable seafood experience, head to Tian Xia Ke (p1). Another nearby spot, Da Jia Lai, also comes highly recommended by friends. You can find it at Kompleks Asia City.
2. I tried Yuan Cha Shi (p18) and Yi Feng Laksa (p17), both recommended on Little Red Book, but they were just okay.

– The laksa at Wang Jiao (p16) across from the pier is far superior. However, be prepared for slow service, making it less ideal for those in a rush.
3. Inside the pier, there’s a stall offering a variety of fresh fruits, perfect for a refreshing fruit smoothie (p11).
4. At the Gaya Street Night Market, don’t miss the milk tea stand (p12-13) that crafts their drinks with fresh tea and milk, resulting in a truly delicious treat.

🌊 Activities
1. Before my trip, I read that island hopping isn’t as rewarding as visiting Manukan Island, so we headed there on our first day (p8-p10). Unfortunately, it wasn’t as enjoyable as expected; more details in another post.
2. On the second day, we explored Mamutik Island (p3-p7). The sea here has a slight green tint, and when we visited at noon, it was relatively quiet.

There’s much more to do here compared to Manukan Island, and the presence of trees adds to the charm.
3. Massages in Kota Kinabalu are budget-friendly, with 90 minutes costing just 70 RM. However, the technique is somewhat lacking. It feels like they’re just applying essential oils all over your body, and the foot massage is extremely forceful [crying emoji].

It doesn’t compare to the massage chair at the homestay.
4. If you’re looking to buy Chanel, Zeston Duty-Free Shop likely has the best selection. The airport, on the other hand, offers very limited options.

🏠 Accommodation
I highly recommend The Shore and The Voyagers Home Borneo Kota Kinabalu | Homestay. The landlord speaks Chinese and is incredibly welcoming. The room boasts a stunning sea view (p15). The location is perfect: it’s a 15-minute drive from the airport to the homestay, a 2-minute walk downstairs to Durian Street, a 5-minute walk to Gaya Street Night Market, and a 5 RM taxi ride or about a 10-minute walk to the pier.

The massage chair is unbelievably comfortable, and I even considered buying the same model for home.

🚕 For getting around, use Grab. It can be linked to Alipay and supports Chinese, making it incredibly convenient.