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: $799 in Kuching versus $844 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Kuching versus $1,303 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Kuching versus $1,761 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 5% less than in Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.42

$2.29 MYR 9.05

26.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 79.9

$18.66 MYR 73.7

8.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.81

$4.59 MYR 18.13

3.70%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.15

$2.57 MYR 10.17

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

$0.71 MYR 2.81

$0.69 MYR 2.71

2.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.17

$0.25 MYR 0.99

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 10.87

$2.37 MYR 9.37

16.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 14.13

$3.47 MYR 13.70

3.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 MYR 7.68

$1.75 MYR 6.92

10.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.44

$1.19 MYR 4.68

-5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.21

$1.20 MYR 4.75

-10.83%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.61

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 MYR 36.93

$15.09 MYR 59.6

-38.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 MYR 14.76

$3.51 MYR 13.86

6.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.69

$7.09 MYR 28.00

13.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 MYR 12.12

$2.62 MYR 10.37

17.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.37

$1.12 MYR 4.43

-0.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 9.99

$3.21 MYR 12.68

-21.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 6.98

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-7.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-6.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.72

$1.29 MYR 5.09

-6.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MYR 6.60

$1.12 MYR 4.42

49.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.48 MYR 1.88

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$4.16 MYR 16.44

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.61 MYR 85.4

$16.86 MYR 66.6

28.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.15

$1.92 MYR 7.60

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 13.87

$1.62 MYR 6.39

116.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.90

$0.69 MYR 2.72

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 45.77

$12.01 MYR 47.43

-3.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.20 MYR 4.73

-18.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.32

$1.00 MYR 3.93

9.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$5.83 MYR 23.03

-68.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.96

-6.00%

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

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

51.69%

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

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

32.28%

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

$42.29 MYR 167

$47.91 MYR 189

-11.73%

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

$8.83 MYR 34.86

$3.53 MYR 13.93

150.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 MYR 100

$23.38 MYR 92.4

8.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.59 MYR 117

$37.49 MYR 148

-21.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.61 MYR 37.95

$6.03 MYR 23.81

59.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MYR 18.46

$2.81 MYR 11.09

66.19%

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

$141 MYR 559

$93.4 MYR 369

51.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

35.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 MYR 257

$60.0 MYR 237

8.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.44 MYR 128

$23.14 MYR 91.4

40.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 MYR 342

$71.8 MYR 284

20.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 288

$93.4 MYR 369

-21.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,103

$386 MYR 1,525

-27.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 802

$267 MYR 1,056

-24.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,227

$637 MYR 2,515

-11.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,548

$464 MYR 1,835

-15.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,160 MYR 8,534

$1,587 MYR 6,267

36.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

$938 MYR 3,705

65.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,192

$762 MYR 3,008

-27.14%

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kuching and $386 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 37% 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 in Kuching vs $19 in Sandakan, Sabah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $235 per month, with Sandakan, Sabah cheaper across the board.

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 Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sandakan, Sabah earns 37% 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: $279 in Kuching versus $386 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 $799 per month in Kuching versus $844 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.