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: $846 in Penang versus $970 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,313 in Penang versus $1,438 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Penang versus $1,907 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Penang costs roughly 13% less than in Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.18

$3.79 MYR 15.42

-1.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.03 MYR 81.5

$20.12 MYR 81.8

-0.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.66

$4.90 MYR 19.91

-1.43%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.95

$2.99 MYR 12.18

-1.67%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.80 MYR 3.25

-11.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.42 MYR 1.73

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.17

$3.69 MYR 15.00

14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.32

$4.47 MYR 18.18

0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.26

$1.86 MYR 7.56

-3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.05 MYR 4.27

3.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.52 MYR 6.18

13.82%

Eggs

$2.23 MYR 9.05

$1.89 MYR 7.68

17.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 MYR 54.4

$13.56 MYR 55.2

-1.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.78

$4.33 MYR 17.61

0.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.00 MYR 36.60

$9.96 MYR 40.53

-9.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.67

$3.27 MYR 13.28

-12.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.90

$1.77 MYR 7.20

-3.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.64

$2.43 MYR 9.88

7.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.94

$1.62 MYR 6.59

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.58

$1.33 MYR 5.41

-15.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-1.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.35

$0.57 MYR 2.33

1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 MYR 18.45

$4.51 MYR 18.36

0.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 79.5

$19.18 MYR 78.0

1.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.85

$3.03 MYR 12.31

-3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.20

$3.74 MYR 15.22

6.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.77 MYR 3.13

-37.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.28 MYR 49.95

$12.63 MYR 51.4

-2.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 MYR 6.92

$1.26 MYR 5.13

34.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.48 MYR 1.94

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MYR 30.97

$7.47 MYR 30.37

1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 MYR 3.40

$0.73 MYR 2.97

15.07%

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

$41.6K MYR 169.2K

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

-3.30%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.4K

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

-0.93%

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

$37.45 MYR 152

$49.67 MYR 202

-24.60%

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

$9.83 MYR 40.01

$9.87 MYR 40.13

-0.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 MYR 121

$28.51 MYR 116

4.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 MYR 157

$41.59 MYR 169

-7.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.81 MYR 19.57

$6.59 MYR 26.80

-27.01%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.59

$4.92 MYR 20.00

7.93%

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

$435 MYR 1,769

$176 MYR 715

147.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.4K

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

112.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 245

$61.3 MYR 250

-1.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.72 MYR 141

$34.64 MYR 141

0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 MYR 347

$80.9 MYR 329

5.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 288

$69.9 MYR 284

1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 MYR 1,623

$423 MYR 1,720

-5.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 928

$336 MYR 1,366

-32.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MYR 2,406

$709 MYR 2,886

-16.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 MYR 1,694

$497 MYR 2,023

-16.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 MYR 9,094

$2,034 MYR 8,274

9.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,068 MYR 4,346

$1,142 MYR 4,644

-6.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 MYR 3,754

$1,246 MYR 5,068

-25.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Penang and $423 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 35% 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 Penang vs $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $259 per month, with Penang 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

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 35% 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: $399 in Penang 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 Penang – a meal for two runs $20.00 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 $846 per month in Penang versus $970 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $846 in Penang versus $970 in Sandakan, Sabah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Sandakan, Sabah. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Penang 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, 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.