Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Antalya and Kota Kinabalu

For one person, living is cheaper in Kota Kinabalu: $946 a month against $1,248 in Antalya, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Antalya, Turkey
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Antalya
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,248
/mo nomad
Kota Kinabalu
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$946
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Antalya and in Kota Kinabalu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Antalya and in Kota Kinabalu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,248 per month in Antalya vs $946 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

  • Antalya $1,248
  • Kota Kinabalu $946

A couple spends around $1,879 per month in Antalya vs $1,398 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

  • Antalya $1,879
  • Kota Kinabalu $1,398

A family of three spends $2,510 per month in Antalya vs $1,850 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

  • Antalya $2,510
  • Kota Kinabalu $1,850

Antalya costs about 32% more than Kota Kinabalu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Antalya and Kota Kinabalu are more affordable than the global median – Antalya 8% lower, Kota Kinabalu 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.01 ₺500
$3.63 MYR 14.72
175.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.74 ₺2,135
$19.53 MYR 79.2
118.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 ₺461
$4.75 MYR 19.24
94.32%
Cappuccino
$4.00 ₺200
$2.61 MYR 10.57
53.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₺97.3
$0.55 MYR 2.22
254.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₺25.40
$0.30 MYR 1.21
70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 ₺148
$2.47 MYR 10.00
19.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 ₺239
$3.63 MYR 14.72
31.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 ₺52.6
$1.81 MYR 7.32
-41.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ₺51.4
$1.32 MYR 5.36
-21.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 ₺100
$2.26 MYR 9.16
-11.50%
Eggs
$2.56 ₺128
$3.53 MYR 14.30
-27.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 ₺453
$28.39 MYR 115
-68.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 ₺239
$3.76 MYR 15.25
27.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.49 ₺974
$6.62 MYR 26.82
194.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.65 ₺82.3
$2.24 MYR 9.09
-26.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 ₺88.9
$1.45 MYR 5.88
22.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 ₺50.0
$1.99 MYR 8.08
-49.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ₺72.3
$1.98 MYR 8.04
-26.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 ₺31.83
$1.74 MYR 7.07
-63.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.61 ₺30.41
$2.05 MYR 8.29
-70.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 ₺42.88
$0.94 MYR 3.81
-8.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₺34.76
$0.48 MYR 1.94
45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 ₺114
$4.91 MYR 19.89
-53.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.85 ₺492
$15.67 MYR 63.5
-37.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ₺104
$3.82 MYR 15.47
-45.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₺144
$2.40 MYR 9.74
20.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ₺43.01
$0.19 MYR 0.77
352.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.4 ₺2,519
$25.16 MYR 102
100.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₺51.3
$2.01 MYR 8.13
-48.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₺38.78
$0.23 MYR 0.93
239.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ₺410
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₺69.4
$0.77 MYR 3.14
80.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.0K ₺2.2M
$44.7K MYR 181.3K
-1.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K ₺2.0M
$35.3K MYR 143.2K
10.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.6 ₺3,677
$70.5 MYR 286
4.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.62 ₺581
$9.30 MYR 37.69
24.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.95 ₺747
$32.18 MYR 130
-53.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.4 ₺2,717
$35.85 MYR 145
51.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.94 ₺1,096
$3.04 MYR 12.34
621.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.94 ₺347
$5.21 MYR 21.13
33.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$686 ₺34.3K
$142 MYR 578
381.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K ₺881.3K
$6,866 MYR 27.8K
156.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.22 ₺2,259
$82.7 MYR 335
-45.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.04 ₺1,601
$37.42 MYR 152
-14.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.9 ₺4,639
$92.8 MYR 376
0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 ₺3,918
$49.47 MYR 201
58.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 ₺30.1K
$619 MYR 2,511
-2.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$489 ₺24.4K
$253 MYR 1,026
93.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 ₺50.5K
$708 MYR 2,870
42.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 ₺37.3K
$376 MYR 1,523
98.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,997 ₺99.8K
$1,810 MYR 7,339
10.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,381 ₺69.0K
$1,097 MYR 4,447
25.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$949 ₺47.4K
$584 MYR 2,366
62.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
40.44
3.9
936.92%

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

Last update for Antalya: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Antalya
$489
Kota Kinabalu
$253 48.2% $236
Groceries & Markets
Antalya
$230
Kota Kinabalu
$290 26.3% $60
Eating Out
Antalya
$190
Kota Kinabalu
$98 48.6% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
$112
Kota Kinabalu
$118 5.6% $6.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antalya
$100
Kota Kinabalu
$112 11.8% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
$68
Kota Kinabalu
$46 32.2% $22
Getting Around
Antalya
$59
Kota Kinabalu
$29 50.5% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $603 in Antalya versus $619 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 63% higher in Antalya. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Antalya versus $20 in Kota Kinabalu. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Antalya vs $290 in Kota Kinabalu – so Antalya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇷 Antalya
🇲🇾 Kota Kinabalu
🕒 Local time
10:32 10:32 AM
15:32 3:32 PM
5 h ahead of Antalya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,722,103
500,425
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to TRY – Turkish Lira Converter

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 49.96 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 55.75 TRY (100 TRY = 1.79 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.05 MYR (1 MYR = 0.247 USD). 1 EUR = 4.52 MYR (1 MYR = 0.221 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Antalya Kota Kinabalu 9,200 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Antalya
  • Kota Kinabalu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 32%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,871 per month in Antalya and $1,419 in Kota Kinabalu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Antalya and Kota Kinabalu?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $603 in Antalya and $619 in Kota Kinabalu. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Antalya and in Kota Kinabalu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,248 in Antalya and $946 in Kota Kinabalu. That makes Kota Kinabalu about 24% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 50% less in Kota Kinabalu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Antalya or in Kota Kinabalu?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,248 in Antalya and $946 in Kota Kinabalu. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kota Kinabalu costs $946 versus $1,248 in Antalya. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is safer, Antalya or Kota Kinabalu?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kota Kinabalu. If higher salaries 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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