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: $777 in Kuching versus $838 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,228 in Kuching versus $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,678 in Kuching versus $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 7% less than in Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.43

$2.40 MYR 9.82

16.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.41 MYR 83.4

$18.83 MYR 77.0

8.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.77

$4.63 MYR 18.91

-0.86%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.53

$2.59 MYR 10.57

-0.39%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.68 MYR 2.78

4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.23 MYR 0.94

30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$2.40 MYR 9.80

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.29

$3.45 MYR 14.10

8.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.72

$1.66 MYR 6.79

13.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.31

$1.14 MYR 4.68

-7.89%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.95

$2.76 MYR 11.26

-20.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.17

$15.33 MYR 62.6

-37.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 MYR 15.71

$3.43 MYR 14.01

11.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 33.60

$7.16 MYR 29.24

14.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.19

$2.56 MYR 10.46

16.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.18 MYR 4.83

-2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.71

$3.23 MYR 13.21

-18.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.24

$1.98 MYR 8.09

-10.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-3.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.08

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 MYR 6.98

$1.12 MYR 4.57

52.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.47 MYR 1.92

10.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.12

$4.16 MYR 17.02

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.46 MYR 83.6

$17.39 MYR 71.1

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.86

$1.91 MYR 7.82

103.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.93

$1.68 MYR 6.86

102.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-66.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 48.21

$12.00 MYR 49.04

-1.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.94

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-16.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.03 MYR 4.23

9.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 MYR 7.78

$6.04 MYR 24.69

-68.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

53.61%

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

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

32.68%

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

$41.82 MYR 171

$46.63 MYR 191

-10.32%

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

$9.22 MYR 37.70

$3.50 MYR 14.29

163.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.53 MYR 104

$23.79 MYR 97.2

7.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 MYR 122

$36.28 MYR 148

-17.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 MYR 40.08

$6.00 MYR 24.53

63.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 MYR 18.94

$2.87 MYR 11.75

61.67%

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

$143 MYR 586

$94.8 MYR 388

51.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

40.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$59.3 MYR 242

11.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.34 MYR 128

$22.95 MYR 93.8

36.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 358

$71.8 MYR 293

21.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MYR 293

$95.8 MYR 392

-25.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,160

$391 MYR 1,598

-27.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 820

$267 MYR 1,092

-24.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MYR 2,326

$652 MYR 2,664

-12.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,583

$479 MYR 1,958

-19.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 MYR 8,535

$1,998 MYR 8,166

4.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 MYR 6,172

$995 MYR 4,065

51.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$530 MYR 2,167

$1,215 MYR 4,965

-56.35%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $391 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 129% 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $236 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 129% lower in Sandakan, Sabah. 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: $284 in Kuching versus $391 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 $777 per month in Kuching versus $838 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 8% 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 8% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.