Living in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Tips for Moving and Visiting 2024

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If you've been wondering what it's like to live in or visit Kota Kinabalu, the Crowdsourced Explorer community can help. We asked five people living in Kota Kinabalu what someone who is considering moving to or visiting there should know. Here are their pros and cons, tips, and advice:

Recent advice...Jane on Stockport, United Kingdom: xThe old parts of town – the underbank and marketplace are much improved. Heaton moor is an excellent place to live. Read more ›

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Recent advice...MCHARO on Mombasa, Kenya: xIf you are coming to Mombasa you need to visit the pirates beach, Fort Jesus, which is a historical site and the nature trail which is a natural park. Read more ›

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Recent advice...Agbor on Essen, Germany: xEssen is located in the Northwest Region of Germany. It is an average city with lots of foreigners. It has a very good transport system with many African shops. Read more ›

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Recent advice...Emmanuel on Nairobi, Kenya: xPlanning to move to Nairobi? Get ready for an exciting mix of city living and thrilling adventures! Experience the lively markets, indulge in mouthwatering street food, and have the awe-inspiring… Read more ›

Recent advice...Pierre on Gaborone, Botswana: xWe live on a homestead, about 12 min drive outside the CBD. The blessing of not having traffic, the vibe of city and nature combined is to die for. Read more ›

Recent advice...Xolani on Johannesburg, South Africa: xJohannesburg residents have a 6th sense about people from here and who understand the unspoken rules of the concrete jungle. Plan your routes, always walk like you know where you… Read more ›

Recent advice...James on Nuremberg, Germany: xSpeaking German would be helpful but not necessary. Cold winters, warm summers, nice people. Finding affordable nice accommodation may be difficult. Read more ›

Recent advice...Evans on Los Angeles, United States: xLos Angeles, often abbreviated as L.A., is the largest city in California and the second-largest in the United States, following New York City. Known for its Mediterranean climate, diverse population,… Read more ›

Recent advice...Neha on Faridabad, India: xWell, I’ve stayed in Faridabad for 9 years. The city has come up and developed quiet a lot since then. There are some good malls and big brands to shop… Read more ›

Recent advice...Frenzer on Nairobi, Kenya: xIf you are moving to Nairobi City, everyone is welcoming and cheerful but if you seem to be a newbie the people will take advantage of it. For example, paying… Read more ›

Recent advice...CamCamBlue on Ann Arbor, United States: xIt’s the most expensive city in Michigan, and fast growing. We have a lovely park system and nice small, surrounding towns. Read more ›

Recent advice...Anne on North Adelaide, Australia: xBest kept secret – clean, friendly, beautiful hills and beaches. Read more ›

Recent advice...Dipti on Vadodara, India: xPeaceful place to stay and roam. Very safe. Read more ›

Recent advice...Shannah on Thibodaux, United States: xThibodaux is a quaint town with affordable homes. It’s a great area to raise children! Read more ›

Recent advice...Kaspars on Chiang Mai, Thailand: xAbsolutely stunning city in the northern part of Thailand. I would say spiritual and food capital of Thailand. There are more than 300 temples scattered around the city. If you… Read more ›

Recent advice...Corne on Bloemfontein, South Africa: xBloemfontein is a very close knit community with friendly people. The town isn’t really clean and well maintained. It has really brilliant schools that are affordable. Read more ›

Recent advice...Felix on Johannesburg, South Africa: xJohannesburg, often referred to as Jo’burg or Jozi, is the largest city in South Africa and the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in the country. Here are some… Read more ›

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Recent advice...Simona on Bitola, North Macedonia: xIf someone is moving to Bitola they should be at ease in not spending much money on security CCTV for securing their property, grandmas are out on their balconies/windows 24/7… Read more ›

Recent advice...Ahmed on Samanoud, Egypt: xWelcome to Samanoud, a historic gem in Egypt’s Gharbia Governorate! Once known as Sebennytos, this city features remnants of a temple dedicated to the god Anhur and his lioness goddess… Read more ›

Recent advice...Grace on Kadoma, Zimbabwe: xIf you’re moving to Kadoma you’ll need to be prepared for the heat and the dust. The roads are dusty and bad but the biggest plus is that its rich… Read more ›

Recent advice...Jeff on Minneapolis, United States: x4 wondrous seasons and thriving activities in each. Great park system thriving downtown and the Mississippi River are all here. Welcoming people convey the famous ‘Minnesota Nice’. Several world class… Read more ›

Recent advice...Esther on Lagos, Nigeria: xLagos, Nigeria is a vibrant, rapidly growing hub that’s always buzzing with energy. Known for its beautiful beaches and historic sites, it is a must-visit for anyone with an adventurous… Read more ›

Recent advice...Erick on Singapore: xIt’s the best place for working due to safety, high salary, and great transportation. Singapore is a city that is suitable for any lifestyle whether you live a frugal living… Read more ›

Recent advice...Jamie on Highlands Ranch, United States: xA really lovely suburb of Denver. Incredibly clean, well planned community. Low crime rate. Very walkable. Lots of conveniences nearby. Tons of parks for the kids. Only downside is that… Read more ›

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5 comments on “Kota Kinabalu”

It floods quite often nowadays. Fibre internet connectivity is available in many parts of the city, especially newer developments, and mobile reception is generally okay. Cost of eating out and housing rental often exceeds many areas in Kuala Lumpur.

HELPFUL REPORT

If you are one with great interest in beaches and small city, this place is right for you. Kota Kinabalu is surrounded by a protected marine park comprising of several islands with pristine waters. The diversity of the reefs are a major highlight for those who are enthusiastic about marine heavens. These islands are only 15-20 minutes boat-ride from the city. You can enjoy the wilderness without having to lose civilization.

Kota Kinabalu has a tropical climate. It is multiracial. Nearly everyone here is multilingual and most know some English. The culture is more conservative than a typical western city yet quite laid-back. Seafood here is cheap and there are many delicious dishes available. Kota Kinabalu was previously a British colony and English is more of a second-language than a foreign language.

The people Kota Kinabalu are friendly and helpful, it is also a tourism-friendly city in which it attracts many tourists from far and wide. There are varieties of food to enjoy and many beautiful beaches and attractions. The transportation system is very good and easy to find such as e-hailing, public buses, taxis, mini buses and so on.

For someone moving here, they should know the pro and cons of living in my city. For example, they should know the job market and business environment in your new area, the real estate market and available housing options, the cost of living in a new city, the climate and weather peculiarities in that part of the country and the social and cultural reality in the area.

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5 comments on “Kota Kinabalu”

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Living in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia:
Tips for Moving and Visiting