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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Kuching versus $836 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,218 in Kuching versus $1,280 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Kuching versus $1,723 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 4% less than in Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 MYR 11.19

$2.34 MYR 9.50

17.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.32 MYR 82.4

$18.98 MYR 77.0

7.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.51

$4.65 MYR 18.85

3.44%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.26

$2.60 MYR 10.55

-2.69%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.07

$0.69 MYR 2.79

10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.19

$0.25 MYR 1.02

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$2.30 MYR 9.33

20.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 MYR 14.63

$3.48 MYR 14.09

3.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$1.72 MYR 6.98

11.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$1.24 MYR 5.01

-12.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-7.83%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.73

$2.79 MYR 11.31

-22.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MYR 38.01

$15.31 MYR 62.1

-38.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 MYR 15.36

$3.61 MYR 14.66

4.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 MYR 32.49

$6.90 MYR 27.97

16.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.14

$2.57 MYR 10.44

16.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.63

$1.13 MYR 4.57

0.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.48

$3.29 MYR 13.35

-21.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$2.00 MYR 8.11

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.50

$1.22 MYR 4.96

-9.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$1.28 MYR 5.18

-3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.87

$1.08 MYR 4.37

56.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.51 MYR 2.05

3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.00

$4.19 MYR 17.01

Wine (Bottle)

$21.36 MYR 86.6

$20.37 MYR 82.6

4.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.69

$1.91 MYR 7.76

102.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.82

$1.62 MYR 6.59

110.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.68 MYR 2.76

-66.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.32

$11.59 MYR 47.01

2.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.76

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-19.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$1.03 MYR 4.20

7.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$5.86 MYR 23.77

-68.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.46 MYR 1.88

8.70%

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

$44.6K MYR 180.8K

$29.0K MYR 117.6K

53.68%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.3K

$28.2K MYR 114.4K

32.31%

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

$41.24 MYR 167

$47.00 MYR 191

-12.26%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.16

$3.56 MYR 14.43

150.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 103

$23.54 MYR 95.5

7.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 MYR 120

$37.45 MYR 152

-21.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.77 MYR 39.62

$5.79 MYR 23.50

68.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MYR 18.77

$2.79 MYR 11.33

65.95%

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

$141 MYR 572

$93.4 MYR 379

51.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

$4,465 MYR 18.1K

35.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 267

$59.3 MYR 241

10.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.99 MYR 130

$22.40 MYR 90.8

42.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 348

$69.9 MYR 283

22.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$93.6 MYR 380

-23.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MYR 1,156

$387 MYR 1,571

-26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 MYR 830

$274 MYR 1,113

-25.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MYR 2,255

$637 MYR 2,581

-12.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,566

$465 MYR 1,886

-16.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,692

$2,042 MYR 8,280

4.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,224

$1,040 MYR 4,217

47.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,239

$1,225 MYR 4,968

-54.93%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kuching and $387 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 122% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $243, with Kuching cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sandakan, Sabah earns 122% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Kuching versus $387 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kuching – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Kuching versus $836 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kuching gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sandakan, Sabah, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Sandakan, Sabah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.