Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Sabah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,069 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $838 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,119 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 28% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.79 MYR 19.58

$2.40 MYR 9.81

99.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.03 MYR 114

$18.83 MYR 76.9

48.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.63

$4.63 MYR 18.89

3.89%

Cappuccino

$3.09 MYR 12.60

$2.59 MYR 10.56

19.31%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.44

$0.68 MYR 2.78

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.23 MYR 0.94

130.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.80

$2.40 MYR 9.79

81.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 MYR 24.13

$3.45 MYR 14.09

71.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 MYR 8.08

$1.66 MYR 6.78

19.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.20 MYR 4.88

-13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.83

$1.14 MYR 4.67

46.49%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 9.29

$2.76 MYR 11.25

-17.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.79 MYR 60.4

$15.33 MYR 62.6

-3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.46

$3.43 MYR 14.00

31.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.47 MYR 38.67

$7.16 MYR 29.22

32.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MYR 11.58

$2.56 MYR 10.45

10.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.39

$1.18 MYR 4.82

32.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.70

$3.23 MYR 13.20

-18.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.03

$1.98 MYR 8.09

-25.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.19 MYR 4.86

7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.52

$1.34 MYR 5.46

0.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.12 MYR 4.57

3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.47 MYR 1.92

44.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.12

$4.16 MYR 17.01

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.22 MYR 74.4

$17.39 MYR 71.0

4.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 MYR 13.38

$1.91 MYR 7.81

71.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 MYR 17.72

$1.68 MYR 6.85

158.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 47.20

$12.00 MYR 48.99

-3.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$1.15 MYR 4.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.03 MYR 4.22

11.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 MYR 19.77

$6.04 MYR 24.67

-19.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.50 MYR 2.05

2.00%

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

$40.7K MYR 166.2K

$29.9K MYR 122.0K

36.22%

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

$32.3K MYR 132.0K

$28.1K MYR 114.6K

15.18%

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

$65.7 MYR 268

$46.63 MYR 190

40.81%

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

$11.50 MYR 46.95

$3.50 MYR 14.28

228.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.16 MYR 103

$23.79 MYR 97.1

5.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 MYR 185

$36.28 MYR 148

25.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.72 MYR 31.51

$6.00 MYR 24.50

28.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 MYR 20.84

$2.87 MYR 11.74

77.70%

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

$267 MYR 1,088

$94.8 MYR 387

181.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,341 MYR 38.1K

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

112.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 MYR 249

$59.3 MYR 242

3.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.05 MYR 151

$22.95 MYR 93.7

61.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 354

$71.8 MYR 293

20.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 MYR 328

$95.8 MYR 391

-16.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 MYR 2,364

$391 MYR 1,597

48.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 MYR 1,522

$267 MYR 1,091

39.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 MYR 4,282

$652 MYR 2,662

60.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,629

$479 MYR 1,956

34.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 MYR 16.2K

$1,998 MYR 8,158

98.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,468 MYR 5,995

$995 MYR 4,061

47.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,589 MYR 6,487

$1,215 MYR 4,960

30.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

49.00%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $579 in Kuala Lumpur versus $391 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 31% higher in Kuala Lumpur, 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 $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $236 – making Sandakan, Sabah 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

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

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,603 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,257 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Kuala Lumpur, 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 $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $19.00 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 Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $838, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,069. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sandakan, Sabah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Sandakan, Sabah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.