Is Borneo Expensive To Visit - The Full Cost Of Travelling Borneo
Planning a trip to Borneo to see orangutans might sound like it costs a small fortune. While it’s true that some activities can make Borneo seem expensive, we believe you can also explore this incredible destination on a backpacker’s budget.
Is Borneo expensive to visit? Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Borneo isn’t the cheapest, but it’s far from the most expensive. In fact, the unique experiences it offers make it a fantastic addition to any backpacker’s route. If you plan to hike Mount Kinabalu, stay at the Seaventures Dive Rig, or camp in the jungle, your trip may lean on the pricier side. However, it’s entirely possible to soak up Borneo’s culture, see wild animals, and immerse yourself in its lush jungles without breaking the bank.
Below, we share average travel costs in Borneo to help you plan and save for your trip. We’ve also included a breakdown of our exact spending to give you a clearer idea of how much two weeks in Borneo might cost.
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Cost Of Accommodation In Borneo
The price of accommodation varies greatly across the island catering for different budgets from basic hostels to luxury eco-lodges and hotels.
In popular areas such as Kota Kinablu, Sandakan and Sepilok dorm rooms cost around £8-12 for a bed making it a super affordable way to travel the county. Due to Borneo being a nature lovers paradise you shouldn’t have to worry about too many party hostels. We stayed in two dorm rooms in Sepilok Jungle Resort and Sepilok B&B.
There are plenty of 2-3 star hotels and guest houses that cost between £20-£50 a night depending on their location and facilities. These are great for families! Find out the best places to stay in Sepilok here.
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Luxury Stays
You can opt to stay in private resorts, in the rainforest or in luxury hotels such as the Shangri-La in KK. This can range from £100-£300 a night. We also found some extremely expensive trips such as this one in Danum Valley.
One of the priciest options is staying in eco-lodges along the Kinabatangan River or within national parks. These often not only offer accommodation but are all-inclusive with itineraries/ guided tours and offers an immersive experience to Bonreo’s jungle and wildlife. If you’re after a once-in-a-lifetime experience a rainforest lodge is definitely worth considering.
Food In Borneo: The Cost Of Eating Out In Borneo
During our time in Borneo we had some of the best food of our trip! We always try to eat like a local as this keeps costs down while allowing us to experience authentic flavours. Many accommodations such as Sepilok Jungle Resort also included breakfast which was nice.
If you’re like us and stick to local restaurants, street stalls then meals are incredible affordable:
Breakfast: Local options like roti canai or nasi lemak cost around £1-£2.
Lunch: A plate of fried noodles, rice with chicken, or a bowl of laksa costs about £2-£3.
Dinner: Heartier meals, such as seafood dishes or BBQ options, are typically around £3-£5.
If you want to eat western then be prepared for a higher price tag, we ordered a Nando's and it cost £17 compared to a £5 local dish. You will also pay a premium for eating in your hotels, especially in places like Sepilok where options are limited, although the food is delicious!
Getting Around Malaysian Borneo: Transport Options and Costs
Malaysian Borneo is a relatively small area however transport costs significantly impact your budget. Fortunately, there are options to suit every budget.
Buses
The most budget friendly option is to use public transport in the form of buses. They connect major towns such as KK, Sandakan and Kuching. Ticket prices from KK to Sepilok (6 hours) cost £8 each. The downside with buses is they take long and may not be as comfortable or have access to facilities.
Flights
A faster way to travel between cities or regions is via domestic flight. Airlines such as AirAisa offer low cost tickets however you need to factor in luggage costs as well. We use Wayaway as a flight comparison tool.
Car Hire
For complete freedom and flexibility renting a car is an excellent option. Car rentals can cost between £25-£30 per day plus fuel. This is a great way to travel if you're in a group, and it might even work out cheaper!
Grab
For short-distances in cities Grab, similar to uber, is a great affordable option. It’s convenient and can be ordered from your phone via the app.
Activities In Borneo
As previously mentioned some activities cost more than others. If you're traveling on a tight budget, consider focusing on affordable options like visiting Sepilok’s wildlife centers. For those with more flexibility in their budget, larger adventures such as climbing Mount Kinabalu, diving in Semporna, or staying along the Kinabatangan River are available. If you have a modest budget, you might visit Sepilok then choose one activity to splurge on. This is exactly what we did - we chose to stay at Tungog Eco Camp for two nights which was an unforgettable experience.
Top Activity Costs
Other (SIM, Shopping)
SIM Cards And Mobile Data
If you don’t have an e-SIM such as Airalo then you’ll need to purchase one in the airport. You can get a variety of prepaid SIM cards to suit different needs. They vary from £2 - £8. We would recommend the 65GB Data + Unlimited Calls Plan package for RM39 (around £7).
Check out Airalo for a no hassle e-SIM, this removes the hassle of changing physical sim every time you land
ATMs
The local currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM) and cash is predominately used in Malaysian Borneo. ATM’s are readily available in large towns but can be scarce in more rural areas. Always withdraw cash before heading off on an adventure! The ATMs may charge a small fee for withdrawing around £2.
Shopping in KK
Local Markets
In places like the Filipino Market and Gaya Street Market you can find affordable souvenirs, crafts and food.
Shopping Centres
Larger shopping centres such as Suria Sabah, Imago and 1Borneo have a wide variety of clothing, food and international items. Prices here seemed to be similar to the UK for popular clothing brands and electronics.
Supermarkets
Here are the cost of some everyday groceries:
Milk (1L): RM6–RM10 (£1–£1.80)
Rice (1kg): RM5–RM8 (£0.90–£1.40)
Bread (loaf): RM2–RM5 (£0.40–£0.90)
Is Borneo Expensive To Visit? Borneo On A Budget
Our daily budget for two people while travelling is £40, however in Borneo we spent an average of £68! Although this is over we spent £157 each on our Tungog experience in the rainforest, without this it would have been £37, right on budget! That means a two week stay in Borneo can be around £800 for two people, of course it can also be a lot more…
Below we breakdown our cost of everything we spent during our ten days in Malaysian Borneo:
Final Thoughts
After spending ten days travelling around Borneo and seeing the variety it has to offer, we knew we had to get the word out that this should be on everyone's backpacking itinerary! It's affordable if you need to do it on a budget but also has lots of luxury and adventurous options you can add to your Borneo itinerary. An adventure playground and unique destination we highly recommend visiting Borneo.
 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind, plus you’re helping the environment! |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
 | Binoculars To Spot The Wonderful Wildlife You're most likely heading to Borneo for the wildlife. Don't miss out on seeing these amazing animals up close and pack a good pair of binoculars! |
Top Tips For Travelling Borneo
If you’re visiting Borneo, here's our top tips:
Try Nasi Lemak - The national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak is fresh grated coconut and steamed rice served on banana leaves.
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… Also don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags.
Don't skip the Kinabatangan River - It may be pricey but this is where you're going to see most of Borneo's wildlife, including wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.
Dress for the jungle - Pack long sleeve, lightweight materials that cover you from mosquitos but will also keep you cool. Don't forget your Raincoat as tropical downpours are frequent.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Borneo adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
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