Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sandakan, Sabah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $844 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,303 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,761 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 49% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$2.29 MYR 9.05

409.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$18.66 MYR 73.7

124.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$4.59 MYR 18.13

126.58%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$2.57 MYR 10.17

40.47%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$0.69 MYR 2.71

113.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$0.25 MYR 0.99

264.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$2.37 MYR 9.37

27.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$3.47 MYR 13.70

28.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.75 MYR 6.92

-21.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$1.19 MYR 4.68

54.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$1.20 MYR 4.75

34.17%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-10.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$15.09 MYR 59.6

-43.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$3.51 MYR 13.86

141.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$7.09 MYR 28.00

55.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$2.62 MYR 10.37

4.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.12 MYR 4.43

33.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$3.21 MYR 12.68

-38.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$1.91 MYR 7.56

10.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$1.23 MYR 4.87

51.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$1.29 MYR 5.09

68.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$1.12 MYR 4.42

-4.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$0.48 MYR 1.88

118.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$4.16 MYR 16.44

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$16.86 MYR 66.6

-39.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$1.92 MYR 7.60

-13.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$1.62 MYR 6.39

53.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.69 MYR 2.72

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$12.01 MYR 47.43

118.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$1.20 MYR 4.73

158.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$1.00 MYR 3.93

146.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$5.83 MYR 23.03

-44.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$0.50 MYR 1.96

152.00%

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

2.42%

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

-16.82%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

$47.91 MYR 189

75.31%

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

$22.21 MX$385

$3.53 MYR 13.93

529.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$23.38 MYR 92.4

26.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$37.49 MYR 148

40.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

$6.03 MYR 23.81

204.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$2.81 MYR 11.09

76.16%

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

$198 MX$3,438

$93.4 MYR 369

112.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

17.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$60.0 MYR 237

-40.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$23.14 MYR 91.4

73.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$71.8 MYR 284

9.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$93.4 MYR 369

-7.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$386 MYR 1,525

152.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$267 MYR 1,056

76.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$637 MYR 2,515

150.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$464 MYR 1,835

161.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$1,587 MYR 6,267

154.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

$938 MYR 3,705

601.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$762 MYR 3,008

-6.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

280.67%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $386 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 7% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $19 in Sandakan, Sabah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $235 – making Sandakan, Sabah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Playa del Carmen vs Sandakan, Sabah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,266 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $844 in Sandakan, Sabah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 119% less in Sandakan, Sabah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sandakan, Sabah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.