Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 4% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 3.6% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 3.2% cheaper than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 5.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$2.31 MYR 9.73

-12.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$18.93 MYR 79.8

-0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$4.85 MYR 20.43

58.14%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$2.71 MYR 11.41

-26.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ฿26.64

$0.66 MYR 2.78

24.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$0.23 MYR 0.96

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$2.35 MYR 9.9

-9.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$3.55 MYR 14.98

5.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.66 MYR 7.02

-1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$1.21 MYR 5.1

29.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$1.16 MYR 4.87

2.59%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$2.85 MYR 12.01

-30.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$14.97 MYR 63.1

6.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$3.56 MYR 15.01

-12.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$7.19 MYR 30.3

55.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$2.65 MYR 11.18

4.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.17 MYR 4.93

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$3.16 MYR 13.32

-45.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$1.95 MYR 8.21

-20.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$1.23 MYR 5.17

8.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$1.27 MYR 5.36

-4.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.08 MYR 4.54

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$0.47 MYR 1.97

12.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$4.2 MYR 17.71

12.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$18.92 MYR 79.8

-2.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.93 MYR 8.14

-7.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$1.61 MYR 6.79

99.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$0.74 MYR 3.13

27.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$11.71 MYR 49.36

61.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$1.17 MYR 4.92

21.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$0.98 MYR 4.14

37.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$5.75 MYR 24.27

36.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$0.46 MYR 1.93

171.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$29.3K MYR 123.7K

-27.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$27.2K MYR 114.6K

-19.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.6 ฿2,285

$46.98 MYR 198

50.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.72 ฿444

$3.64 MYR 15.33

276.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$23.77 MYR 100

-26.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$36.2 MYR 153

15.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$5.79 MYR 24.4

19.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$2.75 MYR 11.6

110.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$308 ฿9,963

$95.7 MYR 403

221.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$4,548 MYR 19.2K

223.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$58.5 MYR 247

-5.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$23.19 MYR 97.8

13.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$71 MYR 300

19.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$92.5 MYR 390

-22.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$392 MYR 1,654

10.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$265 MYR 1,120

-11.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$644 MYR 2,714

27.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$471 MYR 1,986

5.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$1,722 MYR 7,261

26.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$1,151 MYR 4,852

34.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$703 MYR 2,965

0.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: October 29, 2025

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