Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $970 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $855 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,389 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,923 in Da Nang, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah costs about 13% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sandakan, Sabah and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Sandakan, Sabah 30% lower, Da Nang 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 MYR 15.42

$2.33 ₫60.5K

62.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.12 MYR 81.8

$19.15 ₫496.2K

5.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 19.91

$4.49 ₫116.3K

9.13%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.18

$1.78 ₫46.1K

67.98%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$0.67 ₫17.4K

19.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.73

$0.32 ₫8,264

31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 MYR 15.00

$1.32 ₫34.3K

179.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.18

$2.34 ₫60.7K

91.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.56

$1.47 ₫38.2K

26.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.27

$1.23 ₫32.0K

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.18

$1.06 ₫27.6K

43.40%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$1.54 ₫39.9K

22.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.56 MYR 55.2

$13.10 ₫339.5K

3.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.61

$4.08 ₫105.7K

6.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.96 MYR 40.53

$9.19 ₫238.2K

8.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 MYR 13.28

$2.59 ₫67.1K

26.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.20

$1.11 ₫28.7K

59.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.88

$1.29 ₫33.4K

88.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.59

$1.46 ₫37.9K

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.41

$1.12 ₫29.0K

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.27 ₫32.9K

-6.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.01 ₫26.2K

18.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$0.49 ₫12.6K

16.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 MYR 18.36

$1.49 ₫38.7K

202.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 78.0

$7.85 ₫203.4K

144.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$0.83 ₫21.6K

265.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.22

$2.19 ₫56.7K

70.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.34 ₫8,932

126.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.63 MYR 51.4

$4.90 ₫126.9K

157.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$1.03 ₫26.7K

22.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.61 ₫15.8K

-21.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 MYR 30.37

$19.51 ₫505.7K

-61.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$0.91 ₫23.6K

-19.78%

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

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

$31.2K ₫807.6M

38.06%

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

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

$27.7K ₫717.0M

26.80%

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

$49.67 MYR 202

$89.1 ₫2.3M

-44.27%

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

$9.87 MYR 40.13

$6.02 ₫156.0K

63.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.51 MYR 116

$8.18 ₫211.9K

248.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 MYR 169

$22.12 ₫573.4K

88.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MYR 26.80

$5.33 ₫138.3K

23.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 20.00

$3.12 ₫81.0K

57.69%

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

$176 MYR 715

$163 ₫4.2M

7.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

$15.2K ₫394.2M

-67.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 250

$44.51 ₫1.2M

37.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 MYR 141

$28.06 ₫727.2K

23.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 MYR 329

$102 ₫2.6M

-20.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 MYR 284

$82.8 ₫2.1M

-15.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MYR 1,720

$531 ₫13.8M

-20.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MYR 1,366

$341 ₫8.8M

-1.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,886

$1,044 ₫27.1M

-32.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 MYR 2,023

$787 ₫20.4M

-36.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 MYR 8,274

$3,768 ₫97.7M

-46.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,142 MYR 4,644

$1,309 ₫33.9M

-12.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,246 MYR 5,068

$349 ₫9.1M

256.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

10.72

-60.82%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $531 in Da Nang. 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 257% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, 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 $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $197 – making Da Nang 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

Sandakan, Sabah vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $970 in Sandakan, Sabah, $855 in Da Nang – roughly 13% apart. Sandakan, Sabah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,455 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,282 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 31% more in Sandakan, Sabah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Sandakan, Sabah at $970. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sandakan, Sabah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $855 in Da Nang to $970 in Sandakan, Sabah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sandakan, Sabah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.