😐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 – Antalya9% lower, Kota Kinabalu33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.40₺506
$3.65MYR 14.89
184.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.94₺2,187
$19.55MYR 79.8
129.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.20₺448
$4.78MYR 19.51
92.47%
Cappuccino
$4.16₺202
$2.61MYR 10.64
59.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77₺86.0
$0.60MYR 2.43
195.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₺23.88
$0.32MYR 1.32
53.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05₺148
$2.52MYR 10.27
21.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99₺243
$3.71MYR 15.16
34.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04₺50.7
$1.75MYR 7.12
-40.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01₺49.22
$1.34MYR 5.47
-24.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94₺94.3
$2.36MYR 9.65
-17.80%
Eggs
$2.37₺115
$3.46MYR 14.13
-31.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.53₺464
$27.98MYR 114
-65.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.91₺239
$3.74MYR 15.28
31.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.10₺978
$6.59MYR 26.92
205.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76₺85.5
$2.18MYR 8.89
-19.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86₺90.5
$1.42MYR 5.81
30.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96₺46.53
$1.94MYR 7.90
-50.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48₺72.2
$1.94MYR 7.94
-23.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66₺32.34
$1.76MYR 7.17
-62.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57₺27.94
$2.15MYR 8.76
-73.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87₺42.16
$1.01MYR 4.14
-13.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₺32.05
$0.48MYR 1.97
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33₺113
$4.57MYR 18.64
-49.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20₺496
$16.05MYR 65.5
-36.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13₺104
$3.76MYR 15.36
-43.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00₺146
$2.50MYR 10.22
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85₺41.20
$1.94MYR 7.92
-56.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.02₺1,217
$42.86MYR 175
-41.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97₺47.20
$1.92MYR 7.84
-49.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71₺34.44
$0.24MYR 0.97
195.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20₺399
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29₺62.7
$0.70MYR 2.86
84.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7K₺2.1M
$42.5KMYR 173.5K
2.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K₺2.0M
$36.2KMYR 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
$69.0MYR 282
12.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.53₺561
$9.64MYR 39.35
19.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.86₺723
$29.06MYR 119
-48.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3₺2,640
$51.2MYR 209
6.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.68₺1,104
$3.05MYR 12.47
643.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37₺261
$5.31MYR 21.66
1.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$705₺34.3K
$139MYR 569
405.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K₺673.9K
$7,051MYR 28.8K
96.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.07₺2,242
$82.7MYR 338
-44.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56₺1,584
$36.80MYR 150
-11.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3₺4,539
$91.3MYR 373
2.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3₺3,908
$49.30MYR 201
62.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584₺28.4K
$428MYR 1,747
36.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$473₺23.0K
$194MYR 792
143.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$961₺46.8K
$682MYR 2,785
40.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726₺35.3K
$370MYR 1,512
96.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,094₺101.9K
$1,855MYR 7,573
12.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,396₺67.9K
$1,095MYR 4,469
27.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$936₺45.5K
$593MYR 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.