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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $935 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,414 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,894 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.73 MYR 15.27

-44.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$19.29 MYR 79.0

1.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.84 MYR 19.80

17.15%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$3.04 MYR 12.45

-40.46%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.78 MYR 3.18

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.42 MYR 1.72

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$3.46 MYR 14.15

-36.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.08 MYR 16.72

-7.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.81 MYR 7.40

13.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.94 MYR 3.83

60.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.49 MYR 6.12

-6.04%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.97 MYR 8.08

14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$15.08 MYR 61.7

7.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.70 MYR 19.23

-38.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$9.86 MYR 40.35

-4.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.24 MYR 13.25

-17.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.49 MYR 6.09

-26.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.63 MYR 10.77

-38.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.23 MYR 5.03

4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.32 MYR 5.42

-19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.27 MYR 17.47

-0.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$19.61 MYR 80.3

-6.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.76 MYR 11.29

-40.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.60 MYR 14.73

-19.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.72 MYR 2.95

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$13.62 MYR 55.8

294.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.23 MYR 5.05

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.55 MYR 2.25

5.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$7.96 MYR 32.58

-69.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.86 MYR 3.53

68.60%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$45.3K MYR 185.6K

-53.65%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$35.7K MYR 146.2K

-26.00%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$49.78 MYR 204

27.86%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.54 MYR 39.05

35.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$28.40 MYR 116

-27.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$41.14 MYR 168

-5.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$6.43 MYR 26.31

-39.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.92 MYR 20.15

33.74%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$179 MYR 734

337.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$5,286 MYR 21.6K

177.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$59.9 MYR 245

-8.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$32.05 MYR 131

-22.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$81.4 MYR 333

15.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$67.0 MYR 274

10.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$467 MYR 1,913

4.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$290 MYR 1,187

-0.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$718 MYR 2,940

24.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$507 MYR 2,077

2.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,942 MYR 7,948

1.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,167 MYR 4,778

23.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$1,252 MYR 5,125

-51.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.2

32.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $467 in Sandakan, Sabah. 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 108% higher in Sandakan, Sabah. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $262 in Sandakan, Sabah – so Chiang Mai 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

Chiang Mai vs Sandakan, Sabah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,402 in Sandakan, Sabah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 295% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Sandakan, Sabah at $935. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sandakan, Sabah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $935 in Sandakan, Sabah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sandakan, Sabah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.