Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sandakan, Sabah

😐 Solo nomad: Kuching is 1.3% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 5.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 8.1% cheaper than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.8 MYR 11.82

$2.31 MYR 9.73

21.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.06 MYR 84.6

$18.93 MYR 79.8

5.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.76

$4.85 MYR 20.43

-3.30%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.83

$2.71 MYR 11.41

-5.17%

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

$0.71 MYR 3

$0.66 MYR 2.78

7.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.37

$0.23 MYR 0.96

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MYR 11.68

$2.35 MYR 9.9

17.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 15.08

$3.55 MYR 14.98

0.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 MYR 8.24

$1.66 MYR 7.02

17.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.77

$1.21 MYR 5.1

-6.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.27

$1.16 MYR 4.87

-12.93%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 9

$2.85 MYR 12.01

-25.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 MYR 39.48

$14.97 MYR 63.1

-37.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 16.23

$3.56 MYR 15.01

8.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 MYR 33.24

$7.19 MYR 30.3

9.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MYR 12.72

$2.65 MYR 11.18

13.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.1 MYR 4.64

$1.17 MYR 4.93

-5.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 11.06

$3.16 MYR 13.32

-17.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.75

$1.95 MYR 8.21

-5.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.85

$1.23 MYR 5.17

-6.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.16

$1.27 MYR 5.36

-3.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 7.07

$1.08 MYR 4.54

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.2

$0.47 MYR 1.97

10.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 17.47

$4.2 MYR 17.71

-1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 81.8

$18.92 MYR 79.8

2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.7

$1.93 MYR 8.14

92.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 14.26

$1.61 MYR 6.79

109.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.06

$0.74 MYR 3.13

-66.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 MYR 48.8

$11.71 MYR 49.36

-1.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.83

$1.17 MYR 4.92

-22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.83

$0.98 MYR 4.14

16.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 MYR 8.17

$5.75 MYR 24.27

-66.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.46 MYR 1.93

8.70%

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

$44.9K MYR 189.4K

$29.3K MYR 123.7K

53.04%

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

$36.1K MYR 152.3K

$27.2K MYR 114.6K

32.91%

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

$42.14 MYR 178

$46.98 MYR 198

-10.30%

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

$8.94 MYR 37.71

$3.64 MYR 15.33

145.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 MYR 105

$23.77 MYR 100

4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 MYR 126

$36.2 MYR 153

-17.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 MYR 41.73

$5.79 MYR 24.4

70.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 MYR 19.47

$2.75 MYR 11.6

68.00%

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

$144 MYR 606

$95.7 MYR 403

50.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,013 MYR 25.4K

$4,548 MYR 19.2K

32.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66 MYR 278

$58.5 MYR 247

12.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.77 MYR 134

$23.19 MYR 97.8

37.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 MYR 361

$71 MYR 300

20.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 304

$92.5 MYR 390

-21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 MYR 1,171

$392 MYR 1,654

-29.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 MYR 877

$265 MYR 1,120

-21.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 MYR 2,409

$644 MYR 2,714

-11.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,645

$471 MYR 1,986

-17.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 MYR 7,934

$1,722 MYR 7,261

9.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 MYR 5,607

$1,151 MYR 4,852

15.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 MYR 2,384

$703 MYR 2,965

-19.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

42.33%

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

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

Ubud

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

Bansko

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Cebu

🇵🇭 Philippines

Kyiv

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Bogota

🇨🇴 Colombia

Beijing (Pekin)

🇨🇳 China