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: $867 in Penang versus $838 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Penang is roughly 3% more expensive than in Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.58

$2.40 MYR 9.82

28.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.4

$18.83 MYR 77.0

14.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.96

$4.63 MYR 18.91

-10.37%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.13

$2.59 MYR 10.57

14.67%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.68 MYR 2.78

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.23 MYR 0.94

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.52

$2.40 MYR 9.80

78.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.20

$3.45 MYR 14.10

28.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.66 MYR 6.79

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-14.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.41

$1.14 MYR 4.68

80.70%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.76 MYR 11.26

-23.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.5

$15.33 MYR 62.6

10.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.20

$3.43 MYR 14.01

51.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 61.0

$7.16 MYR 29.24

108.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.89

$2.56 MYR 10.46

13.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.18 MYR 4.83

22.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.89

$3.23 MYR 13.21

-17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.60

$1.98 MYR 8.09

6.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-20.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.47 MYR 1.92

2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.13

$4.16 MYR 17.02

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.8

$17.39 MYR 71.1

10.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.84

$1.91 MYR 7.82

38.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.89

$1.68 MYR 6.86

102.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.6

$12.00 MYR 49.04

48.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-35.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$1.03 MYR 4.23

-50.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.21

$6.04 MYR 24.69

14.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

14.02%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.8K

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

-2.58%

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

$39.05 MYR 160

$46.63 MYR 191

-16.26%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.58

$3.50 MYR 14.29

190.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$23.79 MYR 97.2

32.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$36.28 MYR 148

-10.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.61

$6.00 MYR 24.53

-7.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.64

$2.87 MYR 11.75

67.60%

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

$240 MYR 979

$94.8 MYR 388

152.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.3K

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

40.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$59.3 MYR 242

-6.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$22.95 MYR 93.8

27.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 250

$71.8 MYR 293

-14.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$95.8 MYR 392

-45.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,559

$391 MYR 1,598

-2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 921

$267 MYR 1,092

-15.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,598

$652 MYR 2,664

-2.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,133

$479 MYR 1,958

8.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 9,004

$1,998 MYR 8,166

10.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,740

$995 MYR 4,065

16.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,849

$1,215 MYR 4,965

-22.48%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $391 in Sandakan, Sabah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 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

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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 29% 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: $382 in Penang 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 Sandakan, Sabah – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Penang versus $838 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 3% 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 3% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.