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 $838 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $712 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,292 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,080 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,747 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,448 in Da Nang, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah costs about 18% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sandakan, Sabah and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower, Da Nang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 MYR 9.82

$1.87 ₫49.3K

28.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.83 MYR 77.0

$18.84 ₫495.8K

-0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.91

$4.60 ₫121.2K

0.65%

Cappuccino

$2.59 MYR 10.57

$1.57 ₫41.2K

64.97%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.50 ₫13.3K

36.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.29 ₫7,557

-20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 MYR 9.80

$1.08 ₫28.3K

122.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MYR 14.10

$1.61 ₫42.4K

114.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MYR 6.79

$1.44 ₫37.8K

15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$0.96 ₫25.3K

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.68

$1.13 ₫29.7K

0.88%

Eggs

$2.76 MYR 11.26

$1.48 ₫38.9K

86.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 MYR 62.6

$12.58 ₫331.1K

21.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 MYR 14.01

$3.77 ₫99.2K

-9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 MYR 29.24

$9.74 ₫256.5K

-26.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.46

$2.60 ₫68.4K

-1.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$0.92 ₫24.2K

28.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 MYR 13.21

$1.08 ₫28.4K

199.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.09

$1.06 ₫27.9K

86.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.10 ₫29.0K

8.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.17 ₫30.7K

14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$1.01 ₫26.6K

10.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.52 ₫13.8K

-9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.02

$1.32 ₫34.6K

215.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.39 MYR 71.1

$7.74 ₫203.7K

124.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.82

$0.86 ₫22.5K

122.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.64 ₫43.2K

2.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.35 ₫9,095

94.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 MYR 49.04

$3.78 ₫99.4K

217.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.88 ₫23.1K

30.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.23

$0.70 ₫18.5K

47.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 MYR 24.69

$12.01 ₫316.1K

-49.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.84 ₫22.2K

-40.48%

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

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

$26.3K ₫692.4M

13.60%

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

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

$27.9K ₫735.3M

0.48%

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

$46.63 MYR 191

$75.9 ₫2.0M

-38.60%

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

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$5.93 ₫156.1K

-40.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 MYR 97.2

$8.34 ₫219.5K

185.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 MYR 148

$20.32 ₫534.9K

78.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 MYR 24.53

$7.82 ₫205.9K

-23.27%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 MYR 11.75

$3.16 ₫83.2K

-9.18%

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

$94.8 MYR 388

$156 ₫4.1M

-39.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

$13.0K ₫342.0M

-66.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$39.50 ₫1.0M

50.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.95 MYR 93.8

$25.70 ₫676.4K

-10.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 293

$52.3 ₫1.4M

37.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 MYR 392

$76.1 ₫2.0M

25.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,598

$362 ₫9.5M

7.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,092

$246 ₫6.5M

8.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 MYR 2,664

$732 ₫19.3M

-10.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 MYR 1,958

$456 ₫12.0M

5.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,998 MYR 8,166

$3,881 ₫102.2M

-48.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 MYR 4,065

$1,304 ₫34.3M

-23.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,215 MYR 4,965

$347 ₫9.1M

250.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

-71.88%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: July 27, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $362 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 250% 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 $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Sandakan, Sabah vs $187 in Da Nang – so Da Nang 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $838 in Sandakan, Sabah, $712 in Da Nang – roughly 18% apart. Sandakan, Sabah costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,257 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,068 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 26% 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 $19.00 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $838 in Sandakan, Sabah and $712 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $712 in Da Nang to $838 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.