Kota Kinabalu vs Tawau: which is sunnier?
🇲🇾 Malaysia vs 🇲🇾 Malaysia · 292 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Tawau is the sunnier overall: about 2,411 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 | Tawau | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,194 | 2,411 |
| 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 | 2,442 mm |
| Warmest sea | 31°C / 88°F | 32°C / 90°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 12 (extreme) |
Kota Kinabalu vs Tawau month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu | Tawau | Kota Kinabalu | Tawau | Kota Kinabalu | Tawau | Kota Kinabalu | Tawau | |
| January | 64 | 65 | 29° | 29° | 197 | 236 | 30° | 31° |
| February | 74 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 98 | 154 | 29° | 31° |
| March | 69 | 65 | 30° | 30° | 123 | 188 | 29° | 31° |
| April | 66 | 65 | 31° | 30° | 138 | 175 | 31° | 32° |
| May | 64 | 65 | 31° | 30° | 218 | 194 | 31° | 32° |
| June | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 263 | 199 | 31° | 31° |
| July | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 259 | 215 | 31° | 30° |
| August | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 239 | 231 | 31° | 31° |
| September | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 272 | 161 | 30° | 31° |
| October | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 356 | 209 | 30° | 32° |
| November | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 282 | 215 | 31° | 32° |
| December | 64 | 65 | 30° | 29° | 270 | 265 | 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: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 67/100, Tawau 65/100. 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, Tawau 65/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 30°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 64/100, Tawau 65/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Kota Kinabalu averages 64/100, Tawau 65/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
Sea temperature
Tawau's sea gets warmer: 32°C / 90°F at its peak vs 31°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Kota Kinabalu all year, Tawau all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Kota Kinabalu weather by month · Tawau weather by month · Best time to visit Malaysia.
More comparisons: Kota Kinabalu vs Miri · Kota Kinabalu vs Tarakan · Kota Kinabalu vs Bandar Seri Begawan · Tawau vs Tarakan · Tawau vs Tanjung Redeb - Borneo Island · all head-to-heads