😐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 – Antalya12% lower, Kota Kinabalu35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.23₺416
$3.63MYR 14.35
154.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.93₺1,983
$18.97MYR 74.9
131.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.40₺425
$4.85MYR 19.16
93.81%
Cappuccino
$3.38₺153
$2.59MYR 10.22
30.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₺47.71
$0.64MYR 2.53
65.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35₺16.02
$0.40MYR 1.56
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90₺176
$2.40MYR 9.48
62.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83₺173
$3.48MYR 13.73
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04₺47.13
$1.69MYR 6.67
-38.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87₺39.21
$1.26MYR 4.96
-30.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27₺102
$1.75MYR 6.92
29.71%
Eggs
$2.29₺104
$2.78MYR 10.97
-17.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.99₺496
$25.84MYR 102
-57.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06₺273
$3.54MYR 14.00
71.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.82₺804
$7.31MYR 28.87
143.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.13₺51.1
$2.56MYR 10.11
-55.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14₺96.6
$1.17MYR 4.61
82.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06₺47.72
$3.30MYR 13.02
-67.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25₺56.3
$2.01MYR 7.94
-37.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₺32.21
$1.53MYR 6.06
-53.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57₺25.56
$1.77MYR 6.97
-67.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89₺40.01
$1.07MYR 4.22
-16.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37₺16.50
$0.50MYR 1.99
-26.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17₺98.0
$4.24MYR 16.75
-48.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.81₺308
$27.60MYR 109
-75.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19₺98.8
$1.87MYR 7.40
17.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91₺131
$1.70MYR 6.71
71.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67₺30.39
$1.54MYR 6.09
-56.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.14₺1,361
$41.03MYR 162
-26.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73₺33.09
$1.86MYR 7.33
-60.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₺31.73
$0.43MYR 1.72
62.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78₺261
$5.80MYR 22.92
-0.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24₺56.2
$0.50MYR 1.97
148.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.1K₺3.0M
$29.6KMYR 116.9K
126.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.6K₺2.5M
$27.8KMYR 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
$50.6MYR 200
44.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23₺462
$9.23MYR 36.47
10.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.32₺601
$33.41MYR 132
-60.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.06₺1,899
$43.99MYR 174
-4.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.30₺601
$2.88MYR 11.39
361.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65₺255
$4.77MYR 18.86
18.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$663₺29.9K
$131MYR 519
404.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K₺501.2K
$4,411MYR 17.4K
151.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7₺2,560
$60.0MYR 237
-5.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09₺1,584
$22.72MYR 89.7
54.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104₺4,675
$69.6MYR 275
48.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3₺3,669
$94.5MYR 373
-13.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597₺27.0K
$378MYR 1,495
57.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469₺21.2K
$164MYR 648
185.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,017₺45.9K
$636MYR 2,512
60.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$659₺29.7K
$369MYR 1,456
78.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,464₺111.2K
$1,862MYR 7,355
32.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,328₺60.0K
$1,132MYR 4,470
17.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$916₺41.3K
$607MYR 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.