😐A single person spends $1,172 per month in Antalya vs $843 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,743 per month in Antalya vs $1,332 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,314 per month in Antalya vs $1,820 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.
😐Antalya costs about 39% more than Kota Kinabalu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Antalya and Kota Kinabalu are more affordable than the global median – Antalya12% lower, Kota Kinabalu37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.82₺419
$3.47MYR 14.15
154.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.89₺2,086
$18.58MYR 75.9
136.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.62₺457
$4.63MYR 18.91
107.78%
Cappuccino
$3.39₺161
$2.61MYR 10.65
29.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10₺52.3
$0.64MYR 2.63
71.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35₺16.75
$0.39MYR 1.61
-10.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.72₺177
$2.42MYR 9.90
53.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90₺185
$3.46MYR 14.11
12.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03₺49.00
$1.75MYR 7.13
-41.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85₺40.57
$1.25MYR 5.09
-32.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25₺107
$1.67MYR 6.84
34.73%
Eggs
$2.29₺109
$2.84MYR 11.58
-19.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93₺520
$26.15MYR 107
-58.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32₺301
$3.59MYR 14.66
76.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.76₺844
$7.21MYR 29.46
146.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15₺54.5
$2.58MYR 10.52
-55.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14₺102
$1.17MYR 4.78
82.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09₺52.0
$3.20MYR 13.08
-65.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31₺62.2
$2.00MYR 8.16
-34.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69₺32.59
$1.50MYR 6.14
-54.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54₺25.54
$1.75MYR 7.14
-69.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95₺45.37
$1.08MYR 4.40
-12.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37₺17.45
$0.48MYR 1.94
-22.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07₺98.5
$4.22MYR 17.23
-50.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.77₺464
$15.78MYR 64.4
-38.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22₺106
$1.84MYR 7.53
20.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₺137
$1.63MYR 6.66
76.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71₺33.67
$1.51MYR 6.16
-52.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.22₺1,436
$40.60MYR 166
-25.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₺37.64
$1.87MYR 7.64
-57.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67₺31.84
$0.47MYR 1.91
42.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.58₺265
$5.97MYR 24.38
-6.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20₺56.8
$0.50MYR 2.04
140.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.1K₺3.1M
$29.0KMYR 118.3K
128.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.7K₺2.6M
$27.5KMYR 112.3K
102.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.7₺3,454
$51.5MYR 210
41.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90₺471
$8.92MYR 36.41
10.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.62₺647
$32.44MYR 132
-58.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.34₺2,012
$43.51MYR 178
-2.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.12₺624
$3.02MYR 12.33
334.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72₺272
$4.56MYR 18.60
25.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$657₺31.2K
$128MYR 524
412.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₺514.0K
$4,446MYR 18.2K
143.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8₺2,698
$60.6MYR 247
-6.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.90₺1,659
$22.42MYR 91.5
55.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104₺4,934
$69.6MYR 284
49.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9₺3,846
$93.7MYR 383
-13.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609₺28.9K
$371MYR 1,515
63.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$480₺22.8K
$162MYR 663
195.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022₺48.6K
$655MYR 2,676
55.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660₺31.4K
$364MYR 1,486
81.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,061₺97.9K
$1,829MYR 7,469
12.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,349₺64.1K
$1,063MYR 4,340
26.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$971₺46.2K
$575MYR 2,346
68.98%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Kota Kinabalu: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $609 in Antalya versus $371 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 69% 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 – $232 in Antalya vs $271 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 39%, 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 $1,759 per month in Antalya and $1,265 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 and in Kota Kinabalu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,172 in Antalya and $843 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 34% less in Kota Kinabalu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Antalya or in Kota Kinabalu?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Kinabalu, where all-in costs run around $843, than in Antalya at $1,172. 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.