Cost of Living Comparison Between Antalya and Kota Kinabalu Cost of Living Comparison Between Antalya and Kota Kinabalu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,179 per month in Antalya vs $867 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,745 per month in Antalya vs $1,375 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,310 per month in Antalya vs $1,882 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

Antalya costs about 36% more than Kota Kinabalu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Antalya and Kota Kinabalu are more affordable than the global median – Antalya 12% lower, Kota Kinabalu 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.23 ₺416
$3.63 MYR 14.35
154.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.93 ₺1,983
$18.97 MYR 74.9
131.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 ₺425
$4.85 MYR 19.16
93.81%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₺153
$2.59 MYR 10.22
30.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₺47.71
$0.64 MYR 2.53
65.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₺16.02
$0.40 MYR 1.56
-12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 ₺176
$2.40 MYR 9.48
62.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ₺173
$3.48 MYR 13.73
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 ₺47.13
$1.69 MYR 6.67
-38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 ₺39.21
$1.26 MYR 4.96
-30.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 ₺102
$1.75 MYR 6.92
29.71%
Eggs
$2.29 ₺104
$2.78 MYR 10.97
-17.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 ₺496
$25.84 MYR 102
-57.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.06 ₺273
$3.54 MYR 14.00
71.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.82 ₺804
$7.31 MYR 28.87
143.78%
Apples (1kg)
$1.13 ₺51.1
$2.56 MYR 10.11
-55.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 ₺96.6
$1.17 MYR 4.61
82.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 ₺47.72
$3.30 MYR 13.02
-67.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 ₺56.3
$2.01 MYR 7.94
-37.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₺32.21
$1.53 MYR 6.06
-53.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 ₺25.56
$1.77 MYR 6.97
-67.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 ₺40.01
$1.07 MYR 4.22
-16.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₺16.50
$0.50 MYR 1.99
-26.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 ₺98.0
$4.24 MYR 16.75
-48.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.81 ₺308
$27.60 MYR 109
-75.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 ₺98.8
$1.87 MYR 7.40
17.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₺131
$1.70 MYR 6.71
71.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 ₺30.39
$1.54 MYR 6.09
-56.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.14 ₺1,361
$41.03 MYR 162
-26.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₺33.09
$1.86 MYR 7.33
-60.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₺31.73
$0.43 MYR 1.72
62.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 ₺261
$5.80 MYR 22.92
-0.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ₺56.2
$0.50 MYR 1.97
148.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.1K ₺3.0M
$29.6K MYR 116.9K
126.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.6K ₺2.5M
$27.8K MYR 109.7K
100.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 ₺3,299
$50.6 MYR 200
44.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23 ₺462
$9.23 MYR 36.47
10.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.32 ₺601
$33.41 MYR 132
-60.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.06 ₺1,899
$43.99 MYR 174
-4.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.30 ₺601
$2.88 MYR 11.39
361.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₺255
$4.77 MYR 18.86
18.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$663 ₺29.9K
$131 MYR 519
404.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K ₺501.2K
$4,411 MYR 17.4K
151.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₺2,560
$60.0 MYR 237
-5.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 ₺1,584
$22.72 MYR 89.7
54.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 ₺4,675
$69.6 MYR 275
48.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3 ₺3,669
$94.5 MYR 373
-13.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 ₺27.0K
$378 MYR 1,495
57.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 ₺21.2K
$164 MYR 648
185.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,017 ₺45.9K
$636 MYR 2,512
60.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ₺29.7K
$369 MYR 1,456
78.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,464 ₺111.2K
$1,862 MYR 7,355
32.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,328 ₺60.0K
$1,132 MYR 4,470
17.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$916 ₺41.3K
$607 MYR 2,399
50.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30.12
3.8
692.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antalya: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $597 in Antalya versus $378 in Kota Kinabalu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Antalya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Antalya versus $19.00 in Kota Kinabalu. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Antalya vs $294 in Kota Kinabalu – so Antalya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Antalya vs Kota Kinabalu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kota Kinabalu cheaper than Antalya?
Yes – Antalya is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,769 per month in Antalya and $1,301 in Kota Kinabalu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kota Kinabalu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Antalya vs Kota Kinabalu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,179 in Antalya and $867 in Kota Kinabalu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 36% less in Kota Kinabalu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Antalya or Kota Kinabalu?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Kinabalu, where all-in costs run around $867, than in Antalya at $1,179. In Kota Kinabalu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Antalya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Antalya or Kota Kinabalu more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kota Kinabalu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Antalya or Kota Kinabalu?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kota Kinabalu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antalya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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