Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Kinabalu and Antalya Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Kinabalu and Antalya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $921 per month in Kota Kinabalu vs $1,197 in Antalya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,429 per month in Kota Kinabalu vs $1,836 in Antalya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,938 per month in Kota Kinabalu vs $2,475 in Antalya, rent included.

Kota Kinabalu is about 23% cheaper than Antalya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kota Kinabalu and Antalya are more affordable than the global median – Kota Kinabalu 33% lower, Antalya 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.73 MYR 15.16
$10.26 ₺498
-63.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.52 MYR 79.4
$44.08 ₺2,140
-55.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 MYR 20.67
$9.50 ₺461
-46.53%
Cappuccino
$2.69 MYR 10.95
$4.35 ₺211
-38.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MYR 2.36
$1.84 ₺89.6
-68.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 MYR 1.24
$0.46 ₺22.32
-32.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 MYR 10.18
$3.02 ₺147
-17.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 MYR 15.32
$4.92 ₺239
-23.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 MYR 7.42
$1.08 ₺52.5
68.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 MYR 5.49
$1.00 ₺48.62
35.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 MYR 9.38
$1.91 ₺92.8
20.94%
Eggs
$3.59 MYR 14.62
$2.44 ₺119
47.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.57 MYR 116
$9.67 ₺470
195.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 MYR 15.23
$5.11 ₺248
-26.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.93 MYR 28.19
$20.10 ₺976
-65.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 MYR 8.82
$1.74 ₺84.4
24.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 MYR 5.72
$1.85 ₺89.7
-23.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MYR 7.99
$0.99 ₺48.26
97.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 MYR 7.94
$1.48 ₺72.0
31.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 MYR 6.85
$0.66 ₺32.17
154.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 MYR 8.47
$0.59 ₺28.78
252.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 3.87
$0.92 ₺44.46
3.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 MYR 1.81
$0.67 ₺32.69
-34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 MYR 18.27
$2.28 ₺111
96.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.23 MYR 66.0
$10.20 ₺495
59.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.80 MYR 15.45
$2.20 ₺107
72.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 MYR 9.83
$2.90 ₺141
-16.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 MYR 8.14
$0.90 ₺43.69
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.44 MYR 173
$25.11 ₺1,219
69.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 MYR 7.89
$0.94 ₺45.45
106.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 MYR 1.06
$0.69 ₺33.38
-62.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.44 ₺410
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.69 MYR 2.79
$1.36 ₺65.9
-49.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.5K MYR 173.0K
$44.0K ₺2.1M
-3.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K MYR 146.0K
$40.2K ₺2.0M
-10.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.0 MYR 285
$76.3 ₺3,704
-8.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.54 MYR 38.81
$11.36 ₺552
-16.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.32 MYR 136
$15.29 ₺742
117.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.1 MYR 208
$54.7 ₺2,655
-6.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.00 MYR 12.20
$22.57 ₺1,096
-86.71%
Cinema Ticket
$5.42 MYR 22.06
$5.38 ₺261
0.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 MYR 584
$703 ₺34.1K
-79.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,114 MYR 28.9K
$13.6K ₺662.7K
-47.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8 MYR 341
$46.43 ₺2,254
80.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.62 MYR 149
$32.59 ₺1,582
12.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 MYR 377
$94.1 ₺4,569
-1.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.2 MYR 204
$81.1 ₺3,937
-38.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 MYR 1,771
$575 ₺27.9K
-24.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 MYR 777
$476 ₺23.1K
-59.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 MYR 2,737
$978 ₺47.5K
-31.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 MYR 1,528
$704 ₺34.2K
-46.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,840 MYR 7,486
$2,092 ₺101.6K
-12.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,086 MYR 4,417
$1,389 ₺67.5K
-21.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Kinabalu
Antalya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$583 MYR 2,372
$931 ₺45.2K
-37.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
40.44
-90.36%

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

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: September 8, 2026

Last update for Antalya: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Kota Kinabalu versus $575 in Antalya. 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 60% higher in Antalya, 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 Kota Kinabalu versus $44.00 in Antalya. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Kota Kinabalu vs $236 in Antalya – so Antalya 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
Kota Kinabalu vs Antalya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antalya cheaper than Kota Kinabalu?
Yes – Antalya is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Kota Kinabalu and $1,796 in Antalya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kota Kinabalu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kota Kinabalu and in Antalya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $921 in Kota Kinabalu and $1,197 in Antalya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 69% less in Kota Kinabalu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Kota Kinabalu or in Antalya?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Kinabalu, where all-in costs run around $921, than in Antalya at $1,197. In Kota Kinabalu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Antalya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kota Kinabalu or Antalya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kota Kinabalu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kota Kinabalu or Antalya?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kota Kinabalu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antalya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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