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 $1,182 per month in Antalya vs $852 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,776 per month in Antalya vs $1,350 in Kota Kinabalu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,371 per month in Antalya vs $1,847 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 – Antalya 11% lower, Kota Kinabalu 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.92 ₺413
$3.57 MYR 14.52
149.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.68 ₺2,068
$18.72 MYR 76.1
138.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.11 ₺422
$4.82 MYR 19.57
89.00%
Cappuccino
$3.44 ₺159
$2.56 MYR 10.41
34.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₺50.5
$0.65 MYR 2.63
67.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₺17.89
$0.40 MYR 1.61
-2.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.90 ₺180
$2.33 MYR 9.45
67.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 ₺178
$3.49 MYR 14.18
10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 ₺48.23
$1.72 MYR 7.00
-39.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₺39.93
$1.21 MYR 4.90
-28.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 ₺105
$1.67 MYR 6.78
35.33%
Eggs
$2.28 ₺106
$2.92 MYR 11.87
-21.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.91 ₺505
$26.32 MYR 107
-58.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.36 ₺294
$3.59 MYR 14.61
77.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.81 ₺824
$7.13 MYR 28.98
149.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 ₺54.3
$2.54 MYR 10.33
-53.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ₺101
$1.13 MYR 4.60
92.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 ₺49.00
$3.20 MYR 13.00
-66.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 ₺58.1
$1.92 MYR 7.79
-34.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ₺31.65
$1.46 MYR 5.92
-53.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 ₺24.68
$1.69 MYR 6.87
-68.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 ₺41.41
$1.08 MYR 4.38
-17.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₺17.13
$0.47 MYR 1.93
-21.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 ₺96.9
$4.07 MYR 16.52
-48.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.51 ₺440
$15.98 MYR 65.0
-40.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 ₺102
$1.87 MYR 7.58
18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₺133
$1.68 MYR 6.84
70.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 ₺33.30
$1.51 MYR 6.14
-52.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.18 ₺1,397
$41.75 MYR 170
-27.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ₺36.67
$1.91 MYR 7.77
-58.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 ₺32.64
$0.44 MYR 1.79
61.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.83 ₺270
$5.79 MYR 23.52
0.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ₺56.6
$0.50 MYR 2.02
144.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.0K ₺3.1M
$29.4K MYR 119.4K
124.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.2K ₺2.5M
$27.6K MYR 112.3K
96.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.3 ₺3,393
$52.4 MYR 213
40.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.15 ₺470
$8.94 MYR 36.33
13.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.74 ₺636
$33.32 MYR 135
-58.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.80 ₺1,935
$42.89 MYR 174
-2.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.48 ₺624
$2.91 MYR 11.84
363.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79 ₺268
$4.60 MYR 18.70
25.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$649 ₺30.1K
$130 MYR 527
400.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ₺495.5K
$4,424 MYR 18.0K
142.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ₺2,700
$60.6 MYR 246
-3.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.79 ₺1,657
$22.83 MYR 92.8
56.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ₺4,769
$72.1 MYR 293
42.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 ₺3,759
$92.9 MYR 378
-12.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$600 ₺27.8K
$370 MYR 1,504
62.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 ₺21.8K
$166 MYR 676
183.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,007 ₺46.6K
$649 MYR 2,638
55.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 ₺31.1K
$368 MYR 1,497
82.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,368 ₺109.6K
$1,839 MYR 7,474
28.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,371 ₺63.5K
$1,098 MYR 4,464
24.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antalya
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$927 ₺42.9K
$582 MYR 2,365
59.30%
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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $600 in Antalya versus $370 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 59% 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 $19.00 in Kota Kinabalu. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Antalya vs $270 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 $1,773 per month in Antalya and $1,279 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 $1,182 in Antalya and $852 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 38% 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 $852, than in Antalya at $1,182. 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.

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