Kota Kinabalu to Singapore by Flight
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: How to get to Kota Kinabalu Airport
From Kota Kinabalu city centre, you’ll first have to travel 10 km south to reach Kota Kinabalu International Airport. You have 2 transport choices: a 40-minute bus or a 30-minute taxi.
Buses bound for the airport depart from Merdeka Square. Hourly trips are available from 07:30-20:30, and a ticket costs $1.20 (5 MYR).
If you prefer to take a taxi, we highly recommend booking one with Klook. Rates start from $9.90 (40 MYR) for a 3-seater car. Minivans are also available for larger groups.
Taxis in Kota Kinabalu are known for overcharging and not using their meters. So unless you’re willing to pay double or triple the normal price, make the effort to book a Klook ride beforehand.
Step 2: Flight from Kota Kinabalu to Singapore
Air Asia, Scoot, and Batik Air offer several flights to Singapore from Kota Kinabalu every day. Flight time is around 2.5 hours. Airfares start from $40 (51 SGD).
Flights are limited, just about four available daily. It's best to book your flight in advance to get the schedule you prefer.
Step 3: Singapore Airport to City Centre
From Singapore Changi Airport, you’ll have to travel 20 km west to reach downtown Singapore, where most of the tourist hotels are located. You have 4 options: a city shuttle for $7.80 (10 SGD); a taxi from $20 (25 SGD); the train for $2.10 (2.7 SGD); or a public bus for $2 (2.5 SGD).
Travelling solo? The city shuttle is a good mix of comfort and affordability. Although a shared ride, they offer free drop-off to most hotels in the city centre. You can book them at the airport upon arrival or online beforehand via Klook.
If you're travelling in a group, it will be more cost-efficient to take a taxi. There's plenty available at the airport. But if you want your private ride waiting for you as soon as you arrive, you can also pre-book one through Klook or BookAway
The train and the public bus are way cheaper, but often require at least one transfer. If you're carrying bulky luggage, they're not exactly a convenient way to get from the airport to Singapore city centre. For more details, check out our page on Singapore Airport.
