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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Penang versus $844 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,396 in Penang versus $1,303 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,938 in Penang versus $1,761 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Penang is roughly 1% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 MYR 11.97

$2.29 MYR 9.05

32.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.23 MYR 83.9

$18.66 MYR 73.7

13.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.28

$4.59 MYR 18.13

-10.24%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 11.64

$2.57 MYR 10.17

14.79%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.69 MYR 2.71

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.33

$0.25 MYR 0.99

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 MYR 17.63

$2.37 MYR 9.37

88.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 17.87

$3.47 MYR 13.70

30.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$1.75 MYR 6.92

5.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$1.19 MYR 4.68

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 MYR 7.99

$1.20 MYR 4.75

68.33%

Eggs

$2.11 MYR 8.32

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-26.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.98 MYR 67.1

$15.09 MYR 59.6

12.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 MYR 20.41

$3.51 MYR 13.86

47.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 MYR 57.7

$7.09 MYR 28.00

106.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.56

$2.62 MYR 10.37

11.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.73

$1.12 MYR 4.43

29.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.57

$3.21 MYR 12.68

-16.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 MYR 8.61

$1.91 MYR 7.56

14.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-6.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.83

$1.29 MYR 5.09

-5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 MYR 3.83

$1.12 MYR 4.42

-13.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.48 MYR 1.88

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.35

$4.16 MYR 16.44

-0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.42 MYR 76.7

$16.86 MYR 66.6

15.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.40

$1.92 MYR 7.60

36.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 MYR 13.94

$1.62 MYR 6.39

117.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.69 MYR 2.72

-30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.59 MYR 69.5

$12.01 MYR 47.43

46.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$1.20 MYR 4.73

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.13

$1.00 MYR 3.93

-46.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.28 MYR 28.74

$5.83 MYR 23.03

24.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.50 MYR 1.96

-2.00%

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

$33.7K MYR 133.3K

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

14.58%

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

$27.5K MYR 108.7K

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

-2.35%

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

$38.68 MYR 153

$47.91 MYR 189

-19.27%

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

$10.06 MYR 39.73

$3.53 MYR 13.93

184.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.12 MYR 123

$23.38 MYR 92.4

33.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.54 MYR 129

$37.49 MYR 148

-13.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.65 MYR 22.32

$6.03 MYR 23.81

-6.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 19.89

$2.81 MYR 11.09

79.36%

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

$236 MYR 931

$93.4 MYR 369

152.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,202 MYR 24.5K

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

37.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 215

$60.0 MYR 237

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.20 MYR 115

$23.14 MYR 91.4

26.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 MYR 247

$71.8 MYR 284

-13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 MYR 210

$93.4 MYR 369

-43.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,503

$386 MYR 1,525

-1.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 890

$267 MYR 1,056

-15.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 MYR 2,539

$637 MYR 2,515

0.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,036

$464 MYR 1,835

11.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,303 MYR 9,095

$1,587 MYR 6,267

45.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 MYR 4,709

$938 MYR 3,705

27.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$960 MYR 3,792

$762 MYR 3,008

26.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

38.67%

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

Last update for Penang: April 21, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Penang and $386 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 26% 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: $21 in Penang vs $19 in Sandakan, Sabah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 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

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

Sandakan, Sabah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Penang pays 26% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Penang 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 Sandakan, Sabah – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Penang versus $844 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sandakan, Sabah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Penang 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 Sandakan, Sabah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.