Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Sandakan, Sabah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,036 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $935 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,414 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,946 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,894 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Petaling Jaya costs about 11% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Petaling Jaya and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 24% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.75

$3.73 MYR 15.27

-3.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.59 MYR 101

$19.29 MYR 79.0

27.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.26

$4.84 MYR 19.80

2.27%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.21

$3.04 MYR 12.45

-1.97%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.77

$0.78 MYR 3.18

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.42 MYR 1.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 MYR 13.33

$3.46 MYR 14.15

-5.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 MYR 24.09

$4.08 MYR 16.72

44.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.65

$1.81 MYR 7.40

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.29

$0.94 MYR 3.83

11.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.17

$1.49 MYR 6.12

1.34%

Eggs

$1.78 MYR 7.27

$1.97 MYR 8.08

-9.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 MYR 40.31

$15.08 MYR 61.7

-34.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.76

$4.70 MYR 19.23

-28.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 MYR 39.13

$9.86 MYR 40.35

-3.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 MYR 14.17

$3.24 MYR 13.25

6.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$1.49 MYR 6.09

28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.95

$2.63 MYR 10.77

1.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.44

$1.70 MYR 6.96

7.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MYR 8.50

$1.23 MYR 5.03

69.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.14

$1.32 MYR 5.42

50.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.20 MYR 4.90

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 MYR 18.25

$4.27 MYR 17.47

4.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$19.61 MYR 80.3

-1.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.77

$2.76 MYR 11.29

-4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 18.49

$3.60 MYR 14.73

25.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 MYR 5.17

$0.72 MYR 2.95

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 MYR 50.8

$13.62 MYR 55.8

-8.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.17

$1.23 MYR 5.05

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.55 MYR 2.25

-34.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.15 MYR 37.46

$7.96 MYR 32.58

14.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.22

$0.86 MYR 3.53

-8.14%

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

$41.6K MYR 170.2K

$45.3K MYR 185.6K

-8.27%

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

$32.4K MYR 132.8K

$35.7K MYR 146.2K

-9.14%

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

$49.66 MYR 203

$49.78 MYR 204

-0.24%

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

$8.04 MYR 32.92

$9.54 MYR 39.05

-15.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.49 MYR 113

$28.40 MYR 116

-3.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MYR 212

$41.14 MYR 168

26.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.53

$6.43 MYR 26.31

-52.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MYR 19.60

$4.92 MYR 20.15

-2.64%

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

$282 MYR 1,155

$179 MYR 734

57.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 43.1K

$5,286 MYR 21.6K

99.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 MYR 208

$59.9 MYR 245

-15.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 MYR 124

$32.05 MYR 131

-5.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 MYR 323

$81.4 MYR 333

-3.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 MYR 345

$67.0 MYR 274

25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,969

$467 MYR 1,913

2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,640

$290 MYR 1,187

38.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$861 MYR 3,523

$718 MYR 2,940

19.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,315

$507 MYR 2,077

11.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

$1,942 MYR 7,948

65.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MYR 3,990

$1,167 MYR 4,778

-16.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,996

$1,252 MYR 5,125

36.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

4.2

7.38%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Petaling Jaya versus $467 in Sandakan, Sabah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Petaling Jaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Petaling Jaya vs $262 in Sandakan, Sabah – so Petaling Jaya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Petaling Jaya costs about 11% more than Sandakan, Sabah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,553 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,402 in Sandakan, Sabah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sandakan, Sabah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 10% less in Sandakan, Sabah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $282 per month in Petaling Jaya and $179 in Sandakan, Sabah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $935, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,036. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petaling Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sandakan, Sabah costs $935 versus $1,036 in Petaling Jaya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sandakan, Sabah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Petaling Jaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.