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: $889 in Kuching versus $970 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Kuching versus $1,438 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Kuching versus $1,907 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 8% less than in Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.35

$3.79 MYR 15.42

-6.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.07 MYR 102

$20.12 MYR 81.8

24.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

$4.90 MYR 19.91

0.61%

Cappuccino

$3.35 MYR 13.64

$2.99 MYR 12.18

12.04%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.24

$0.80 MYR 3.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.42 MYR 1.73

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.63 MYR 18.84

$3.69 MYR 15.00

25.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.67

$4.47 MYR 18.18

35.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 MYR 9.47

$1.86 MYR 7.56

25.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.05 MYR 4.27

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.52 MYR 6.18

-19.74%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.40

$1.89 MYR 7.68

35.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 MYR 46.74

$13.56 MYR 55.2

-15.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.04

$4.33 MYR 17.61

2.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.38

$9.96 MYR 40.53

-2.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.69

$3.27 MYR 13.28

2.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.77 MYR 7.20

-24.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.43 MYR 9.88

0.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.62 MYR 6.59

14.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.37

$1.33 MYR 5.41

18.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-3.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MYR 6.46

$1.20 MYR 4.90

32.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.57 MYR 2.33

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MYR 19.53

$4.51 MYR 18.36

6.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 MYR 86.2

$19.18 MYR 78.0

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 MYR 16.56

$3.03 MYR 12.31

34.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.63

$3.74 MYR 15.22

35.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MYR 2.58

$0.77 MYR 3.13

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 51.2

$12.63 MYR 51.4

-0.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$1.26 MYR 5.13

-23.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$0.48 MYR 1.94

162.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 36.00

$7.47 MYR 30.37

18.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.73 MYR 2.97

16.44%

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

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

-1.28%

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

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

4.72%

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

$35.37 MYR 144

$49.67 MYR 202

-28.79%

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

$10.29 MYR 41.88

$9.87 MYR 40.13

4.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 MYR 98.7

$28.51 MYR 116

-14.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.72 MYR 125

$41.59 MYR 169

-26.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 MYR 49.84

$6.59 MYR 26.80

85.89%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$4.92 MYR 20.00

-0.20%

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

$135 MYR 551

$176 MYR 715

-22.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

43.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MYR 258

$61.3 MYR 250

3.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 MYR 154

$34.64 MYR 141

9.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 MYR 369

$80.9 MYR 329

12.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 272

$69.9 MYR 284

-4.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,510

$423 MYR 1,720

-12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 MYR 977

$336 MYR 1,366

-28.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,635

$709 MYR 2,886

-8.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,845

$497 MYR 2,023

-8.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 MYR 8,593

$2,034 MYR 8,274

3.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 MYR 6,313

$1,142 MYR 4,644

35.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,229

$1,246 MYR 5,068

-56.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.2

4.05%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Kuching and $423 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 127% 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: $25.00 in Kuching vs $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $259 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 127% 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: $371 in Kuching versus $423 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 $25.00 versus $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $889 per month in Kuching versus $970 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $889 in Kuching versus $970 in Sandakan, Sabah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Sandakan, Sabah. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 9% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.