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 $1,239 per month in Antalya vs $921 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,827 per month in Antalya vs $1,439 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,416 per month in Antalya vs $1,956 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

Antalya costs about 35% more than Kota Kinabalu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Antalya and Kota Kinabalu are more affordable than the global median – Antalya 9% lower, Kota Kinabalu 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.40 ₺506
$3.65 MYR 14.89
184.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.94 ₺2,187
$19.55 MYR 79.8
129.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.20 ₺448
$4.78 MYR 19.51
92.47%
Cappuccino
$4.16 ₺202
$2.61 MYR 10.64
59.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₺86.0
$0.60 MYR 2.43
195.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₺23.88
$0.32 MYR 1.32
53.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 ₺148
$2.52 MYR 10.27
21.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99 ₺243
$3.71 MYR 15.16
34.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 ₺50.7
$1.75 MYR 7.12
-40.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 ₺49.22
$1.34 MYR 5.47
-24.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 ₺94.3
$2.36 MYR 9.65
-17.80%
Eggs
$2.37 ₺115
$3.46 MYR 14.13
-31.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.53 ₺464
$27.98 MYR 114
-65.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.91 ₺239
$3.74 MYR 15.28
31.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.10 ₺978
$6.59 MYR 26.92
205.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.76 ₺85.5
$2.18 MYR 8.89
-19.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 ₺90.5
$1.42 MYR 5.81
30.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 ₺46.53
$1.94 MYR 7.90
-50.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ₺72.2
$1.94 MYR 7.94
-23.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.34
$1.76 MYR 7.17
-62.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 ₺27.94
$2.15 MYR 8.76
-73.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 ₺42.16
$1.01 MYR 4.14
-13.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₺32.05
$0.48 MYR 1.97
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 ₺113
$4.57 MYR 18.64
-49.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 ₺496
$16.05 MYR 65.5
-36.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 ₺104
$3.76 MYR 15.36
-43.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 ₺146
$2.50 MYR 10.22
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ₺41.20
$1.94 MYR 7.92
-56.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.02 ₺1,217
$42.86 MYR 175
-41.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 ₺47.20
$1.92 MYR 7.84
-49.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 ₺34.44
$0.24 MYR 0.97
195.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ₺399
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ₺62.7
$0.70 MYR 2.86
84.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7K ₺2.1M
$42.5K MYR 173.5K
2.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K ₺2.0M
$36.2K MYR 147.8K
10.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.9 ₺3,791
$69.0 MYR 282
12.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.53 ₺561
$9.64 MYR 39.35
19.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.86 ₺723
$29.06 MYR 119
-48.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ₺2,640
$51.2 MYR 209
6.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.68 ₺1,104
$3.05 MYR 12.47
643.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 ₺261
$5.31 MYR 21.66
1.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$705 ₺34.3K
$139 MYR 569
405.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K ₺673.9K
$7,051 MYR 28.8K
96.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.07 ₺2,242
$82.7 MYR 338
-44.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 ₺1,584
$36.80 MYR 150
-11.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.3 ₺4,539
$91.3 MYR 373
2.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 ₺3,908
$49.30 MYR 201
62.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 ₺28.4K
$428 MYR 1,747
36.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 ₺23.0K
$194 MYR 792
143.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$961 ₺46.8K
$682 MYR 2,785
40.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$726 ₺35.3K
$370 MYR 1,512
96.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,094 ₺101.9K
$1,855 MYR 7,573
12.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,396 ₺67.9K
$1,095 MYR 4,469
27.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$936 ₺45.5K
$593 MYR 2,421
57.76%
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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $584 in Antalya versus $428 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 58% 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 $45.00 in Antalya versus $20.00 in Kota Kinabalu. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Antalya vs $289 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 35%, 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 $1,859 per month in Antalya and $1,381 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 $1,239 in Antalya and $921 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 71% 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 $921, than in Antalya at $1,239. 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.

Antalya vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities