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 $1,115 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $935 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,676 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,414 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,237 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,894 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 19% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.01 MYR 20.50

$3.73 MYR 15.27

34.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.09 MYR 123

$19.29 MYR 79.0

55.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 MYR 19.92

$4.84 MYR 19.80

0.62%

Cappuccino

$3.16 MYR 12.92

$3.04 MYR 12.45

3.95%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.48

$0.78 MYR 3.18

8.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.42 MYR 1.72

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 MYR 17.89

$3.46 MYR 14.15

26.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 MYR 24.91

$4.08 MYR 16.72

49.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 MYR 8.57

$1.81 MYR 7.40

15.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.55

$0.94 MYR 3.83

18.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 MYR 8.35

$1.49 MYR 6.12

36.91%

Eggs

$2.44 MYR 9.98

$1.97 MYR 8.08

23.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.76 MYR 64.5

$15.08 MYR 61.7

4.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 MYR 19.73

$4.70 MYR 19.23

2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 MYR 39.28

$9.86 MYR 40.35

-2.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.33

$3.24 MYR 13.25

8.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$1.49 MYR 6.09

28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 MYR 9.50

$2.63 MYR 10.77

-11.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MYR 6.50

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-6.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.23 MYR 5.03

8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.67

$1.32 MYR 5.42

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 MYR 4.89

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-0.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MYR 2.86

$0.54 MYR 2.21

29.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.80

$4.27 MYR 17.47

1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$19.61 MYR 80.3

-3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 14.37

$2.76 MYR 11.29

27.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 MYR 20.10

$3.60 MYR 14.73

36.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.72 MYR 2.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.44 MYR 50.9

$13.62 MYR 55.8

-8.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.89

$1.23 MYR 5.05

-3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 MYR 5.12

$0.55 MYR 2.25

127.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 MYR 19.74

$7.96 MYR 32.58

-39.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 MYR 3.29

$0.86 MYR 3.53

-6.98%

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

$41.6K MYR 170.5K

$45.3K MYR 185.6K

-8.13%

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

$35.3K MYR 144.5K

$35.7K MYR 146.2K

-1.10%

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

$63.2 MYR 258

$49.78 MYR 204

26.86%

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

$9.29 MYR 38.04

$9.54 MYR 39.05

-2.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.02 MYR 106

$28.40 MYR 116

-8.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.52 MYR 203

$41.14 MYR 168

20.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.64 MYR 31.29

$6.43 MYR 26.31

18.82%

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MYR 22.46

$4.92 MYR 20.15

11.59%

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

$299 MYR 1,226

$179 MYR 734

67.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K MYR 52.7K

$5,286 MYR 21.6K

143.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.9 MYR 290

$59.9 MYR 245

18.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.95 MYR 172

$32.05 MYR 131

30.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 MYR 361

$81.4 MYR 333

8.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100.0 MYR 409

$67.0 MYR 274

49.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 MYR 2,502

$467 MYR 1,913

30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 MYR 1,527

$290 MYR 1,187

28.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 MYR 4,994

$718 MYR 2,940

69.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MYR 2,543

$507 MYR 2,077

22.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,055 MYR 16.6K

$1,942 MYR 7,948

108.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,503 MYR 6,150

$1,167 MYR 4,778

28.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,521 MYR 6,226

$1,252 MYR 5,125

21.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $611 in Kuala Lumpur versus $467 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 21% 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 $30.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $262 – 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 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,672 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,402 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 8% 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 $30.00 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 $935, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,115. 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.