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 $718 per month in Da Nang vs $836 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Da Nang vs $1,280 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,491 per month in Da Nang vs $1,723 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Da Nang is about 14% cheaper than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 47% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 ₫49.5K

$2.34 MYR 9.50

-19.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.54 ₫512.9K

$18.98 MYR 77.0

2.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.80 ₫125.9K

$4.65 MYR 18.85

3.23%

Cappuccino

$1.61 ₫42.3K

$2.60 MYR 10.55

-38.08%

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

$0.54 ₫14.1K

$0.69 MYR 2.79

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,600

$0.25 MYR 1.02

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₫28.3K

$2.30 MYR 9.33

-53.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₫41.6K

$3.48 MYR 14.09

-54.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫35.9K

$1.72 MYR 6.98

-20.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$1.24 MYR 5.01

-17.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.15 MYR 4.65

1.74%

Eggs

$1.47 ₫38.5K

$2.79 MYR 11.31

-47.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₫321.0K

$15.31 MYR 62.1

-20.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ₫100.0K

$3.61 MYR 14.66

5.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ₫263.5K

$6.90 MYR 27.97

45.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 ₫68.7K

$2.57 MYR 10.44

1.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.6K

$1.13 MYR 4.57

-13.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.3K

$3.29 MYR 13.35

-65.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$2.00 MYR 8.11

-44.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$1.22 MYR 4.96

-6.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.1K

$1.28 MYR 5.18

-10.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₫26.5K

$1.08 MYR 4.37

-6.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$0.51 MYR 2.05

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.6K

$4.19 MYR 17.01

-67.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.78 ₫204.3K

$20.37 MYR 82.6

-61.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$1.91 MYR 7.76

-55.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₫43.0K

$1.62 MYR 6.59

1.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,989

$0.68 MYR 2.76

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.75 ₫98.5K

$11.59 MYR 47.01

-67.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₫19.5K

$1.03 MYR 4.20

-28.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.95 ₫313.7K

$5.86 MYR 23.77

103.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.46 MYR 1.88

84.78%

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

$26.9K ₫706.5M

$29.0K MYR 117.6K

-7.21%

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

$28.9K ₫757.8M

$28.2K MYR 114.4K

2.33%

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

$75.0 ₫2.0M

$47.00 MYR 191

59.55%

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

$6.01 ₫157.8K

$3.56 MYR 14.43

68.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.43 ₫221.3K

$23.54 MYR 95.5

-64.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.69 ₫516.9K

$37.45 MYR 152

-47.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 ₫205.6K

$5.79 MYR 23.50

35.23%

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 ₫82.3K

$2.79 MYR 11.33

12.19%

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

$152 ₫4.0M

$93.4 MYR 379

62.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫334.5M

$4,465 MYR 18.1K

185.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.87 ₫1.0M

$59.3 MYR 241

-32.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₫669.0K

$22.40 MYR 90.8

13.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.9 ₫1.4M

$69.9 MYR 283

-25.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 ₫2.0M

$93.6 MYR 380

-19.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 ₫9.3M

$387 MYR 1,571

-8.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

$274 MYR 1,113

-9.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ₫18.8M

$637 MYR 2,581

12.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₫11.8M

$465 MYR 1,886

-3.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,837 ₫100.7M

$2,042 MYR 8,280

87.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,299 ₫34.1M

$1,040 MYR 4,217

24.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$1,225 MYR 4,968

-71.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

255.67%

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

Last update for Da Nang: June 9, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Da Nang versus $387 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 247% 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 $20.00 in Da Nang versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Da Nang vs $243 in Sandakan, Sabah – so Da Nang 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $718 in Da Nang, $836 in Sandakan, Sabah – roughly 16% apart. Sandakan, Sabah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,077 per month in Da Nang and $1,254 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 29% 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 $20.00 in Da Nang and $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $718 in Da Nang and $836 in Sandakan, Sabah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $718 in Da Nang to $836 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.