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: $869 in Penang versus $836 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $1,280 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $1,723 in Sandakan, Sabah.

Living in Penang is roughly 4% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$2.34 MYR 9.50

29.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$18.98 MYR 77.0

13.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.65 MYR 18.85

-6.88%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$2.60 MYR 10.55

13.08%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.69 MYR 2.79

-1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.25 MYR 1.02

44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$2.30 MYR 9.33

91.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$3.48 MYR 14.09

28.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.72 MYR 6.98

5.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.24 MYR 5.01

-20.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$1.15 MYR 4.65

76.52%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$2.79 MYR 11.31

-23.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$15.31 MYR 62.1

13.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$3.61 MYR 14.66

44.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$6.90 MYR 27.97

118.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$2.57 MYR 10.44

11.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.13 MYR 4.57

30.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$3.29 MYR 13.35

-21.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$2.00 MYR 8.11

5.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.22 MYR 4.96

-3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.28 MYR 5.18

-9.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$1.08 MYR 4.37

-12.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.51 MYR 2.05

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$4.19 MYR 17.01

4.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$20.37 MYR 82.6

-3.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$1.91 MYR 7.76

37.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$1.62 MYR 6.59

109.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.68 MYR 2.76

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$11.59 MYR 47.01

50.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$1.03 MYR 4.20

-47.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$5.86 MYR 23.77

22.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.46 MYR 1.88

2.17%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$29.0K MYR 117.6K

13.51%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$28.2K MYR 114.4K

-3.34%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$47.00 MYR 191

-17.87%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$3.56 MYR 14.43

182.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$23.54 MYR 95.5

33.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$37.45 MYR 152

-11.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$5.79 MYR 23.50

-6.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$2.79 MYR 11.33

75.99%

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

$238 MYR 963

$93.4 MYR 379

154.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$4,465 MYR 18.1K

38.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$59.3 MYR 241

-7.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$22.40 MYR 90.8

26.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$69.9 MYR 283

-13.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$93.6 MYR 380

-42.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$387 MYR 1,571

-0.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$274 MYR 1,113

-16.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$637 MYR 2,581

0.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$465 MYR 1,886

12.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

$2,042 MYR 8,280

10.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

$1,040 MYR 4,217

14.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$1,225 MYR 4,968

-22.34%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $387 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 $287 vs $243 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sandakan, Sabah earns 29% less. 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: $387 in Penang versus $387 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 $869 per month in Penang versus $836 in Sandakan, Sabah – a 4% 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 4% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.