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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $838 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$2.40 MYR 9.81

-15.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$18.83 MYR 76.9

-0.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.63 MYR 18.89

69.76%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.59 MYR 10.56

-21.62%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.68 MYR 2.78

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.23 MYR 0.94

52.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.40 MYR 9.79

-10.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.45 MYR 14.09

6.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.66 MYR 6.78

4.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.20 MYR 4.88

30.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.14 MYR 4.67

5.26%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.76 MYR 11.25

-28.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$15.33 MYR 62.6

5.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$3.43 MYR 14.00

-10.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$7.16 MYR 29.22

50.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.56 MYR 10.45

8.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.18 MYR 4.82

-0.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$3.23 MYR 13.20

-47.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.98 MYR 8.09

-19.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.19 MYR 4.86

16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-41.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.47 MYR 1.92

10.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.16 MYR 17.01

11.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$17.39 MYR 71.0

2.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.91 MYR 7.81

-6.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.68 MYR 6.85

98.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.68 MYR 2.78

33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$12.00 MYR 48.99

55.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.15 MYR 4.70

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$1.03 MYR 4.22

30.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$6.04 MYR 24.67

34.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.50 MYR 2.05

146.00%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$29.9K MYR 122.0K

-28.27%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$28.1K MYR 114.6K

-22.26%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$46.63 MYR 190

52.97%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$3.50 MYR 14.28

300.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$23.79 MYR 97.1

-24.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$36.28 MYR 148

12.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$6.00 MYR 24.50

14.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$2.87 MYR 11.74

99.30%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$94.8 MYR 387

225.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

234.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$59.3 MYR 242

-5.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$22.95 MYR 93.7

13.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$71.8 MYR 293

18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$95.8 MYR 391

-25.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$391 MYR 1,597

8.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$267 MYR 1,091

-9.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$652 MYR 2,662

22.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$479 MYR 1,956

5.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,998 MYR 8,158

-4.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$995 MYR 4,061

47.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$1,215 MYR 4,960

-51.02%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $391 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 104% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $236 in Sandakan, Sabah – so Sandakan, Sabah 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

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Sandakan, Sabah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,257 in Sandakan, Sabah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $94.8 in Sandakan, Sabah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $838 in Sandakan, Sabah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sandakan, Sabah costs $838 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Sandakan, Sabah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.