Kota Kinabalu vs Tarakan: which is sunnier?
🇲🇾 Malaysia vs 🇮🇩 Indonesia · 335 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Kota Kinabalu and Tarakan are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,194 vs 2,242 hours a year. 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 | Tarakan | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,194 | 2,242 |
| Sunniest month | February (74/100) | January (64/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 67/100 | 64/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 64/100 | 64/100 |
| Rain / year | 2,715 mm | 2,898 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 33°C / 91°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 11 (extreme) |
Kota Kinabalu vs Tarakan month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu | Tarakan | Kota Kinabalu | Tarakan | Kota Kinabalu | Tarakan | Kota Kinabalu | Tarakan | |
| January | 64 | 64 | 29° | 29° | 197 | 243 | 30° | 31° |
| February | 74 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 98 | 182 | 29° | 31° |
| March | 69 | 64 | 30° | 30° | 123 | 267 | 29° | 31° |
| April | 66 | 64 | 31° | 30° | 138 | 251 | 31° | 32° |
| May | 64 | 64 | 31° | 30° | 218 | 278 | 31° | 33° |
| June | 64 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 263 | 221 | 31° | 31° |
| July | 64 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 259 | 226 | 31° | 31° |
| August | 64 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 239 | 213 | 31° | 32° |
| September | 64 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 272 | 216 | 30° | 31° |
| October | 64 | 64 | 30° | 30° | 356 | 248 | 30° | 32° |
| November | 64 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 282 | 258 | 31° | 32° |
| December | 64 | 64 | 30° | 29° | 270 | 295 | 30° | 31° |
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: Kota Kinabalu (average score 67/100 vs 64). Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 66/100, Tarakan 64/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 30°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 64/100, Tarakan 64/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 64/100, Tarakan 64/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 30°C).
Sea temperature
Tarakan's sea gets warmer: 33°C / 91°F at its peak vs 31°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Kota Kinabalu all year, Tarakan all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Kota Kinabalu weather by month · Tarakan weather by month · Best time to visit Malaysia · Best time to visit Indonesia.
More comparisons: Kota Kinabalu vs Tawau · Kota Kinabalu vs Miri · Kota Kinabalu vs Bandar Seri Begawan · Tarakan vs Tawau · Tarakan vs Miri · Tarakan vs Tanjung Redeb - Borneo Island · all head-to-heads