Kota Kinabalu in January
- Temp
- 30°C / 23°C
- Rain
- 133mm
- Rooms
- Mid
Best time to visit / Kota Kinabalu
When is it cheapest to visit Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu is cheapest to visit in September, October, November.
Peak season is February, December, when rooms cost the most.
The month to pick is September. Rooms sit at this city's yearly low, and at an average high of 31°C and low of 24°C with 283mm of rain it asks the least of you of any of its cheap months.
Kota Kinabalu month by month
Kota Kinabalu in February
- Temp
- 31°C / 23°C
- Rain
- 63mm
- Rooms
- Peak
One of the three driest months. On this month: Lunar New Year.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
Kota Kinabalu in March
- Temp
- 32°C / 23°C
- Rain
- 71mm
- Rooms
- Mid
One of the three driest months.
Kota Kinabalu in April
- Temp
- 32°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 124mm
- Rooms
- Mid
One of the three driest months.
Kota Kinabalu in May
- Temp
- 32°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 218mm
- Rooms
- Mid
On this month: Local festival.
Kota Kinabalu in June
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 294mm
- Rooms
- Mid
One of the three wettest months. On this month: School holidays.
Kota Kinabalu in July
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 264mm
- Rooms
- Mid
Kota Kinabalu in August
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 271mm
- Rooms
- Mid
Kota Kinabalu in September
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 283mm
- Rooms
- Cheap
On this month: Monsoon.
Cheap, but wet: keep plans flexible and pack for rain.
Kota Kinabalu in October
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 314mm
- Rooms
- Cheap
One of the three wettest months. On this month: Monsoon.
Cheap, but wet: keep plans flexible and pack for rain.
Kota Kinabalu in November
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 290mm
- Rooms
- Cheap
One of the three wettest months. On this month: Monsoon.
Cheap, but wet: keep plans flexible and pack for rain.
Kota Kinabalu in December
- Temp
- 31°C / 24°C
- Rain
- 241mm
- Rooms
- Peak
On this month: Christmas, New Year holiday.
Peak prices: book early if your dates are fixed.
The wettest month in Kota Kinabalu is October, at 314mm, and it is also one of the cheapest. That is usually the reason the rooms are cheap.
See all 12 months in a table
Kota Kinabalu month by month: weather and room prices
One row per month. The price column is relative to this city's own year, and the temperature and rainfall are thirty-year normals.
| Month | Rooms | Temp | Rain | What is on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Mid | 30°C / 23°C | 133mm | Nothing in particular |
| February | Peak | 31°C / 23°C | 63mm | Lunar New Year |
| March | Mid | 32°C / 23°C | 71mm | Nothing in particular |
| April | Mid | 32°C / 24°C | 124mm | Nothing in particular |
| May | Mid | 32°C / 24°C | 218mm | Local festival |
| June | Mid | 31°C / 24°C | 294mm | School holidays |
| July | Mid | 31°C / 24°C | 264mm | Nothing in particular |
| August | Mid | 31°C / 24°C | 271mm | Nothing in particular |
| September | Cheap | 31°C / 24°C | 283mm | Monsoon |
| Octobernow | Cheap | 31°C / 24°C | 314mm | Monsoon |
| November | Cheap | 31°C / 24°C | 290mm | Monsoon |
| December | Peak | 31°C / 24°C | 241mm | Christmas, New Year holiday |
Temperature and rainfall are published 1991-2020 monthly normals from national meteorological agencies. The price level is Tripdify's own per-city read of peak seasons and holidays; what you actually pay varies by property and day of the week.
Kota Kinabalu seasons and room prices
Kota Kinabalu lies south of the typhoon belt, so storms are rarely a concern and it is hot all year. February to April is the driest stretch with the clearest water, while November to January brings the northeast monsoon, more rain and some choppy boat rides to the islands. Rooms peak during Lunar New Year and the Korean and Chinese holiday weeks, when direct flights from Northeast Asia fill the big resorts at Tanjung Aru and Sutera Harbour first, and again in the Malaysian school holidays around June and December. Climbing Mount Kinabalu depends on a limited number of mountain lodge beds, so book that months ahead.
Kota Kinabalu local costs and payment
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit. Resorts, malls and chain restaurants take cards, but the Filipino Market night market, the Gaya Street Sunday market and tour counters for the islands expect cash, and Grab is cheap and easiest paid in the app. Pay hotels in ringgit rather than your home currency. Malaysia charges foreign guests a flat tourism tax per room per night, collected by the hotel at check in and usually missing from the online total, and a conservation fee is paid in cash when you enter the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park. Compare Agoda channels on the total including tax and budget for those two separately.
When to visit Kota Kinabalu: common questions
When is it cheapest?
Kota Kinabalu is cheapest in the low season, September, October, November.
When is peak season?
February, December is peak season, when room prices are highest.
Which months should I avoid?
To spend the least, avoid the peak months of February, December, when prices climb.
Which month in Kota Kinabalu is both cheap and pleasant?
The month to pick is September. Rooms sit at this city's yearly low, and at an average high of 31°C and low of 24°C with 283mm of rain it asks the least of you of any of its cheap months.
Which month is wettest in Kota Kinabalu?
The wettest month in Kota Kinabalu is October, at 314mm, and it is also one of the cheapest. That is usually the reason the rooms are cheap.