Kota Kinabalu vs Miri: which is sunnier?
🇲🇾 Malaysia vs 🇲🇾 Malaysia · 290 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Miri is the sunnier overall: about 2,300 hours of sunshine a year to Kota Kinabalu's 2,194. Kota Kinabalu has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Kota Kinabalu | Miri | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,194 | 2,300 |
| Sunniest month | February (74/100) | January (65/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 67/100 | 65/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 64/100 | 65/100 |
| Rain / year | 2,715 mm | 2,891 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 32°C / 90°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 12 (extreme) |
Kota Kinabalu vs Miri month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu | Miri | Kota Kinabalu | Miri | Kota Kinabalu | Miri | Kota Kinabalu | Miri | |
| January | 64 | 65 | 29° | 27° | 197 | 347 | 30° | 30° |
| February | 74 | 65 | 30° | 27° | 98 | 156 | 29° | 30° |
| March | 69 | 65 | 30° | 27° | 123 | 153 | 29° | 31° |
| April | 66 | 65 | 31° | 28° | 138 | 187 | 31° | 32° |
| May | 64 | 65 | 31° | 29° | 218 | 202 | 31° | 32° |
| June | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 263 | 222 | 31° | 31° |
| July | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 259 | 216 | 31° | 31° |
| August | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 239 | 211 | 31° | 31° |
| September | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 272 | 214 | 30° | 31° |
| October | 64 | 65 | 30° | 28° | 356 | 294 | 30° | 31° |
| November | 64 | 65 | 30° | 28° | 282 | 312 | 31° | 31° |
| December | 64 | 65 | 30° | 28° | 270 | 377 | 30° | 30° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb Kota Kinabalu · Mar Kota Kinabalu · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 67/100, Miri 65/100. Kota Kinabalu is the warmer, around 30°C daytime highs vs 28°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 66/100, Miri 65/100. Kota Kinabalu is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 64/100, Miri 65/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 64/100, Miri 65/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
Sea temperature
Miri's sea gets warmer: 32°C / 90°F at its peak vs 31°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Kota Kinabalu all year, Miri all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Kota Kinabalu weather by month · Miri weather by month · Best time to visit Malaysia.
More comparisons: Kota Kinabalu vs Tawau · Kota Kinabalu vs Tarakan · Kota Kinabalu vs Bandar Seri Begawan · Miri vs Tarakan · Miri vs Bandar Seri Begawan · all head-to-heads