Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $968 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent and utilities included – about $380 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Sandakan, Sabah
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Sandakan, Sabah Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Sandakan, Sabah

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$968

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Sandakan, Sabah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Sandakan, Sabah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $968 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Sandakan, Sabah $968

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,470 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Sandakan, Sabah $1,470

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,971 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Sandakan, Sabah $1,971

Chiang Mai is about 3% cheaper than Sandakan, Sabah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$3.65 MYR 14.79

-38.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$19.26 MYR 78.1

-1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$4.56 MYR 18.48

21.71%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.07 MYR 12.46

-45.60%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$0.73 MYR 2.95

-12.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$0.43 MYR 1.74

-27.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$4.24 MYR 17.21

-44.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.93 MYR 15.93

-6.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.99 MYR 8.07

-2.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$1.18 MYR 4.78

22.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$1.49 MYR 6.05

-10.74%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$2.24 MYR 9.08

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$11.79 MYR 47.81

39.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$4.00 MYR 16.23

-30.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$9.55 MYR 38.71

-2.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$2.84 MYR 11.49

-17.25%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$1.63 MYR 6.59

-40.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.53 MYR 10.25

-36.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$1.56 MYR 6.34

-3.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$1.39 MYR 5.63

-7.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.38 MYR 5.60

-20.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.27 MYR 5.13

-44.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$0.48 MYR 1.93

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$4.04 MYR 16.39

2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$21.89 MYR 88.8

-19.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$3.12 MYR 12.67

-48.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$4.29 MYR 17.37

-35.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.79 MYR 3.20

10.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$10.67 MYR 43.25

406.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

$1.32 MYR 5.36

-12.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

$0.63 MYR 2.56

-15.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$8.09 MYR 32.81

-70.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$0.82 MYR 3.31

76.83%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$46.8K MYR 189.5K

-54.95%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$39.7K MYR 160.8K

-32.09%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$48.86 MYR 198

27.24%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$10.09 MYR 40.90

20.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$28.65 MYR 116

-29.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$36.98 MYR 150

0.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$7.38 MYR 29.91

-48.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$5.08 MYR 20.60

27.76%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$242 MYR 982

203.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$7,062 MYR 28.6K

109.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$63.1 MYR 256

-15.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$30.35 MYR 123

-18.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$91.5 MYR 371

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$77.2 MYR 313

-6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$379 MYR 1,537

27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$326 MYR 1,320

-5.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$631 MYR 2,556

59.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$589 MYR 2,387

7.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,010 MYR 8,149

17.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,149 MYR 4,658

38.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$1,210 MYR 4,906

-51.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.06

37.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Sandakan, Sabah

$326 33.6% 5.4% $17

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Sandakan, Sabah

$258 26.7% 10.2% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Sandakan, Sabah

$118 12.2% 8.6% $9.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Sandakan, Sabah

$88 9.1% 7.3% $6.9

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Sandakan, Sabah

$113 11.7% 46.3% $36

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sandakan, Sabah

$18 1.9% 70.2% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Sandakan, Sabah

$47 4.9% 6.2% $3.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $379 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 in Sandakan, Sabah are about 2.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $19 in Sandakan, Sabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $258 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇲🇾 Sandakan, Sabah

🕒 Local time

03:47 3:47 AM

04:47 4:47 AM

1 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

439,050

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.64 EUR

1 MYR = 0.247 USD

1 MYR = 0.22 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.83 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.05 MYR (1 MYR = 0.247 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Sandakan, Sabah 2,520 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Sandakan, Sabah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Sandakan, Sabah costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,453 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $379 there versus $482 in Chiang Mai.

Public transport costs about 80% less in Sandakan, Sabah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Sandakan, Sabah, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $968 in Sandakan, Sabah. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $968 in Sandakan, Sabah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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