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 $1,057 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $844 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,623 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,303 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,190 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,761 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 25% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 21% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 MYR 18.39

$2.29 MYR 9.05

103.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.64 MYR 113

$18.66 MYR 73.7

53.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 MYR 18.92

$4.59 MYR 18.13

4.36%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MYR 12.27

$2.57 MYR 10.17

21.01%

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

$0.90 MYR 3.55

$0.69 MYR 2.71

30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.25 MYR 0.99

96.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.25 MYR 16.80

$2.37 MYR 9.37

79.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 MYR 23.00

$3.47 MYR 13.70

67.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 MYR 8.07

$1.75 MYR 6.92

16.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.95

$1.19 MYR 4.68

-15.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.76

$1.20 MYR 4.75

42.50%

Eggs

$2.25 MYR 8.89

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-21.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.85 MYR 58.7

$15.09 MYR 59.6

-1.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 MYR 18.10

$3.51 MYR 13.86

30.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 MYR 37.78

$7.09 MYR 28.00

34.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 11.86

$2.62 MYR 10.37

14.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.15

$1.12 MYR 4.43

39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 MYR 10.69

$3.21 MYR 12.68

-15.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.94

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-21.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.79

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-1.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 MYR 5.55

$1.29 MYR 5.09

9.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.12 MYR 4.42

5.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.68

$0.48 MYR 1.88

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.25

$4.16 MYR 16.44

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.73 MYR 74.0

$16.86 MYR 66.6

11.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.25

$1.92 MYR 7.60

74.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 MYR 17.34

$1.62 MYR 6.39

170.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.73

$0.69 MYR 2.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 45.83

$12.01 MYR 47.43

-3.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.70

$1.20 MYR 4.73

-0.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.52

$1.00 MYR 3.93

15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MYR 18.79

$5.83 MYR 23.03

-18.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.99

$0.50 MYR 1.96

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

$39.4K MYR 155.8K

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

33.89%

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

$32.0K MYR 126.5K

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

13.66%

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

$64.5 MYR 255

$47.91 MYR 189

34.56%

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

$11.67 MYR 46.09

$3.53 MYR 13.93

230.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.55 MYR 101

$23.38 MYR 92.4

9.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.58 MYR 180

$37.49 MYR 148

21.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.57 MYR 29.90

$6.03 MYR 23.81

25.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 MYR 20.27

$2.81 MYR 11.09

82.56%

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

$266 MYR 1,051

$93.4 MYR 369

185.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,264 MYR 36.6K

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

105.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 MYR 239

$60.0 MYR 237

0.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.04 MYR 146

$23.14 MYR 91.4

60.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 MYR 336

$71.8 MYR 284

18.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 MYR 313

$93.4 MYR 369

-15.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$570 MYR 2,252

$386 MYR 1,525

47.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 MYR 1,440

$267 MYR 1,056

36.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,079 MYR 4,262

$637 MYR 2,515

69.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 MYR 2,554

$464 MYR 1,835

39.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,015 MYR 15.9K

$1,587 MYR 6,267

153.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,063

$938 MYR 3,705

63.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,557 MYR 6,151

$762 MYR 3,008

104.50%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $570 in Kuala Lumpur versus $386 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 105% 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 $29 in Kuala Lumpur versus $19 in Sandakan, Sabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $235 – 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 25%, 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 $1,585 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,266 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 14% 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 $29.00 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 $844, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,057. 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.