Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Sandakan, Sabah

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $428 a month against $934 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

21

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
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Dhaka Living Index
45

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

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Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$428

/mo nomad

Sandakan, Sabah

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$934

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka 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 Dhaka and in Sandakan, Sabah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $428 in Dhaka versus $934 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Dhaka $428
Sandakan, Sabah $934

Estimated couple costs with rent: $724 in Dhaka versus $1,397 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Dhaka $724
Sandakan, Sabah $1,397

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,019 in Dhaka versus $1,860 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Dhaka $1,019
Sandakan, Sabah $1,860

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 54% less than in Sandakan, Sabah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.50 ৳309

$3.75 MYR 15.28

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.26 ৳1,638

$19.24 MYR 78.5

-31.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 ৳616

$4.77 MYR 19.45

4.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 ৳602

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 ৳511

Cappuccino

$2.35 ৳291

$2.83 MYR 11.53

-16.96%

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

$0.33 ৳41.07

$0.79 MYR 3.23

-58.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ৳19.62

$0.40 MYR 1.63

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.77 MYR 15.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 MYR 18.27

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 ৳105

$1.82 MYR 7.44

-53.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ৳77.9

$1.04 MYR 4.26

-39.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 ৳83.1

$1.49 MYR 6.09

-55.03%

Eggs

$1.19 ৳147

$2.05 MYR 8.37

-41.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 ৳1,092

$13.38 MYR 54.6

-34.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ৳408

$4.36 MYR 17.77

-24.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.41 ৳792

$9.69 MYR 39.54

-33.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ৳340

$3.28 MYR 13.39

-16.16%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ৳116

$1.67 MYR 6.83

-43.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ৳293

$2.42 MYR 9.85

-2.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ৳79.1

$1.53 MYR 6.25

-58.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 ৳32.25

$1.31 MYR 5.35

-80.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ৳60.6

$1.18 MYR 4.82

-58.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 ৳37.63

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-73.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.49

$0.53 MYR 2.15

-43.40%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.24 ৳1,512

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 ৳671

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 ৳807

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 ৳392

$4.50 MYR 18.35

-29.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.33 MYR 78.9

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 MYR 18.55

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ৳47.44

$0.72 MYR 2.92

-47.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 ৳2,849

$12.43 MYR 50.7

85.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ৳145

$1.19 MYR 4.85

-1.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ৳46.99

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 ৳405

$7.51 MYR 30.63

-56.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ৳137

$0.80 MYR 3.28

38.75%

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

$29.1K ৳3.6M

$41.3K MYR 168.5K

-29.50%

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

$32.9K ৳4.1M

$34.3K MYR 140.0K

-4.06%

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

$46.77 ৳5,779

$48.48 MYR 198

-3.53%

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

$4.51 ৳557

$9.82 MYR 40.07

-54.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 ৳1,387

$27.45 MYR 112

-59.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.43 ৳2,031

$39.94 MYR 163

-58.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.87 ৳1,838

$7.11 MYR 29.01

109.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 ৳519

$4.94 MYR 20.14

-14.98%

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

$91.6 ৳11.3K

$190 MYR 776

-51.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,596 ৳320.8K

$7,001 MYR 28.6K

-62.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.63 ৳2,055

$56.6 MYR 231

-70.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.80 ৳2,447

$34.71 MYR 142

-42.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.87 ৳5,791

$81.6 MYR 333

-42.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.00 ৳4,572

$75.7 MYR 309

-51.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 ৳18.2K

$403 MYR 1,644

-63.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.8 ৳8,743

$299 MYR 1,221

-76.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ৳53.4K

$681 MYR 2,779

-36.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 ৳26.3K

$489 MYR 1,994

-56.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 ৳198.4K

$2,002 MYR 8,167

-19.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$751 ৳92.8K

$1,079 MYR 4,402

-30.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ৳30.3K

$1,220 MYR 4,976

-79.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

4.06

162.81%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Dhaka

$123 28.8%

Sandakan, Sabah

$258 27.6% 109% $134

Accommodation & Living

Dhaka

$71 16.5%

Sandakan, Sabah

$299 32.1% 323% $229

Eating Out

Dhaka

$65 15.2%

Sandakan, Sabah

$111 11.9% 70.1% $46

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dhaka

$63 14.6%

Sandakan, Sabah

$86 9.2% 37.2% $23

Clothing & Footwear

Dhaka

$54 12.6%

Sandakan, Sabah

$112 12% 107% $58

Getting Around

Dhaka

$28 6.5%

Sandakan, Sabah

$19 2% 31.4% $8.7

Sport & Entertainment

Dhaka

$25 5.8%

Sandakan, Sabah

$50 5.3% 101% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Dhaka and $403 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 398% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Dhaka vs $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $258 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🇲🇾 Sandakan, Sabah

🕒 Local time

04:00 4:00 AM

06:00 6:00 AM

2 h ahead of Dhaka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,741,000 Capital

439,050

💱 Currency

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.218 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Taka (৳)

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

USD to BDT in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dhaka Sandakan, Sabah 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Dhaka
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

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

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 398% lower in Sandakan, Sabah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $148 in Dhaka versus $403 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $428 per month in Dhaka versus $934 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 86% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dhaka gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Dhaka and Sandakan, Sabah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.