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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 2.9% cheaper than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 7.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kuching is 9.7% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 3.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.42

$2.32 MYR 9.15

24.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.78 MYR 78.2

$19.10 MYR 75.4

3.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.81

$4.79 MYR 18.90

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.69

$2.64 MYR 10.44

-7.20%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.77

$0.69 MYR 2.73

1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.17

$0.25 MYR 0.99

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.44

$2.39 MYR 9.43

21.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MYR 14.21

$3.60 MYR 14.23

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.40

$1.73 MYR 6.82

8.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.19 MYR 4.72

-5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.05

$1.15 MYR 4.54

-11.30%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.65

$2.77 MYR 10.96

-20.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.47

$15.29 MYR 60.4

-36.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 15.23

$3.56 MYR 14.07

8.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.69

$7.15 MYR 28.25

12.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.80

$2.61 MYR 10.29

14.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MYR 4.36

$1.16 MYR 4.59

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.00

$3.20 MYR 12.66

-20.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.18

$1.90 MYR 7.51

-4.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.20 MYR 4.73

-6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.92

$1.27 MYR 5.01

-2.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.62

$1.13 MYR 4.47

48.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.51 MYR 2.00

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.56

$4.08 MYR 16.12

2.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.67 MYR 85.6

$18.66 MYR 73.7

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.34

$1.90 MYR 7.52

104.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.77

$1.68 MYR 6.65

107.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.68 MYR 2.69

-63.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 46.82

$11.59 MYR 45.80

2.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.67

$1.20 MYR 4.75

-22.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.34

$1.04 MYR 4.09

5.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 MYR 7.69

$5.80 MYR 22.90

-66.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.50 MYR 1.96

-2.00%

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

$45.7K MYR 180.7K

$29.1K MYR 115.1K

57.03%

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

$37.0K MYR 146.0K

$27.9K MYR 110.1K

32.53%

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

$41.74 MYR 165

$47.94 MYR 189

-12.93%

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

$8.98 MYR 35.46

$3.60 MYR 14.23

149.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.04 MYR 98.9

$23.43 MYR 92.5

6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 MYR 117

$36.62 MYR 145

-19.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.91 MYR 39.14

$5.72 MYR 22.59

73.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MYR 18.17

$2.80 MYR 11.05

64.29%

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

$140 MYR 555

$95.2 MYR 376

47.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 MYR 23.7K

$4,471 MYR 17.7K

34.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 MYR 264

$59.8 MYR 236

11.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.50 MYR 124

$22.91 MYR 90.5

37.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 333

$69.8 MYR 276

20.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 281

$94.3 MYR 373

-24.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MYR 1,117

$394 MYR 1,557

-28.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 819

$265 MYR 1,046

-21.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 MYR 2,207

$651 MYR 2,571

-14.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,542

$467 MYR 1,845

-16.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,168 MYR 8,565

$1,904 MYR 7,520

13.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 MYR 6,196

$993 MYR 3,923

57.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 MYR 2,159

$757 MYR 2,990

-27.80%

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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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