Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Sandakan, Sabah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $855 per month in Da Nang vs $970 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,389 per month in Da Nang vs $1,438 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,923 per month in Da Nang vs $1,907 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Da Nang is about 12% cheaper than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 38% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 ₫60.5K

$3.79 MYR 15.42

-38.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.15 ₫496.2K

$20.12 MYR 81.8

-4.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 ₫116.3K

$4.90 MYR 19.91

-8.37%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₫46.1K

$2.99 MYR 12.18

-40.47%

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

$0.67 ₫17.4K

$0.80 MYR 3.25

-16.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₫8,264

$0.42 MYR 1.73

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 ₫34.3K

$3.69 MYR 15.00

-64.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₫60.7K

$4.47 MYR 18.18

-47.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₫38.2K

$1.86 MYR 7.56

-20.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₫32.0K

$1.05 MYR 4.27

17.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.6K

$1.52 MYR 6.18

-30.26%

Eggs

$1.54 ₫39.9K

$1.89 MYR 7.68

-18.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.10 ₫339.5K

$13.56 MYR 55.2

-3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.08 ₫105.7K

$4.33 MYR 17.61

-5.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 ₫238.2K

$9.96 MYR 40.53

-7.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 ₫67.1K

$3.27 MYR 13.28

-20.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 ₫28.7K

$1.77 MYR 7.20

-37.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₫33.4K

$2.43 MYR 9.88

-46.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ₫37.9K

$1.62 MYR 6.59

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.0K

$1.33 MYR 5.41

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 ₫32.9K

$1.19 MYR 4.86

6.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₫26.2K

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-15.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₫12.6K

$0.57 MYR 2.33

-14.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 ₫38.7K

$4.51 MYR 18.36

-66.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ₫203.4K

$19.18 MYR 78.0

-59.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₫21.6K

$3.03 MYR 12.31

-72.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₫56.7K

$3.74 MYR 15.22

-41.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,932

$0.77 MYR 3.13

-55.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.90 ₫126.9K

$12.63 MYR 51.4

-61.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₫26.7K

$1.26 MYR 5.13

-18.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫15.8K

$0.48 MYR 1.94

27.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.51 ₫505.7K

$7.47 MYR 30.37

161.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₫23.6K

$0.73 MYR 2.97

24.66%

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

$31.2K ₫807.6M

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

-27.57%

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

$27.7K ₫717.0M

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

-21.14%

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

$89.1 ₫2.3M

$49.67 MYR 202

79.44%

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

$6.02 ₫156.0K

$9.87 MYR 40.13

-39.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.18 ₫211.9K

$28.51 MYR 116

-71.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.12 ₫573.4K

$41.59 MYR 169

-46.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.33 ₫138.3K

$6.59 MYR 26.80

-19.12%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 ₫81.0K

$4.92 MYR 20.00

-36.59%

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

$163 ₫4.2M

$176 MYR 715

-7.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K ₫394.2M

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

203.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.51 ₫1.2M

$61.3 MYR 250

-27.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.06 ₫727.2K

$34.64 MYR 141

-19.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 ₫2.6M

$80.9 MYR 329

25.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.8 ₫2.1M

$69.9 MYR 284

18.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$531 ₫13.8M

$423 MYR 1,720

25.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 ₫8.8M

$336 MYR 1,366

1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 ₫27.1M

$709 MYR 2,886

47.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₫20.4M

$497 MYR 2,023

58.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,768 ₫97.7M

$2,034 MYR 8,274

85.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,309 ₫33.9M

$1,142 MYR 4,644

14.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 ₫9.1M

$1,246 MYR 5,068

-71.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

4.2

155.24%

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

Last update for Da Nang: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $531 in Da Nang versus $423 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 257% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, 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 $19.00 in Da Nang versus $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $259 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Da Nang vs Sandakan, Sabah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $855 in Da Nang, $970 in Sandakan, Sabah – roughly 13% apart. Sandakan, Sabah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,282 per month in Da Nang and $1,455 in Sandakan, Sabah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 31% more in Sandakan, Sabah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

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

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Sandakan, Sabah at $970. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sandakan, Sabah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $855 in Da Nang to $970 in Sandakan, Sabah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Da Nang. 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.