Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $844 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,057 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,303 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,623 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,190 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 20% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sandakan, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower, Kuala Lumpur 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.05

$4.66 MYR 18.39

-50.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 MYR 73.7

$28.64 MYR 113

-34.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$4.79 MYR 18.92

-4.18%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.17

$3.11 MYR 12.27

-17.36%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.71

$0.90 MYR 3.55

-23.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.49 MYR 1.94

-48.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 MYR 9.37

$4.25 MYR 16.80

-44.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.70

$5.82 MYR 23.00

-40.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 6.92

$2.04 MYR 8.07

-14.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.68

$1.00 MYR 3.95

19.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.75

$1.71 MYR 6.76

-29.82%

Eggs

$2.88 MYR 11.39

$2.25 MYR 8.89

28.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 MYR 59.6

$14.85 MYR 58.7

1.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 MYR 13.86

$4.58 MYR 18.10

-23.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.09 MYR 28.00

$9.56 MYR 37.78

-25.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.37

$3.00 MYR 11.86

-12.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.56 MYR 6.15

-28.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 12.68

$2.71 MYR 10.69

18.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.50 MYR 5.94

27.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.21 MYR 4.79

1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$1.41 MYR 5.55

-8.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.18 MYR 4.65

-5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.88

$0.68 MYR 2.68

-29.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.44

$4.11 MYR 16.25

1.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.86 MYR 66.6

$18.73 MYR 74.0

-9.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$3.35 MYR 13.25

-42.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MYR 6.39

$4.39 MYR 17.34

-63.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.69 MYR 2.73

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 47.43

$11.60 MYR 45.83

3.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.73

$1.19 MYR 4.70

0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 MYR 3.93

$1.15 MYR 4.52

-13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 MYR 23.03

$4.76 MYR 18.79

22.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.50 MYR 1.99

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

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

$39.4K MYR 155.8K

-25.31%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

$32.0K MYR 126.5K

-12.02%

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

$47.91 MYR 189

$64.5 MYR 255

-25.69%

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

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$11.67 MYR 46.09

-69.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.38 MYR 92.4

$25.55 MYR 101

-8.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.49 MYR 148

$45.58 MYR 180

-17.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 23.81

$7.57 MYR 29.90

-20.34%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 MYR 11.09

$5.13 MYR 20.27

-45.22%

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

$93.4 MYR 369

$266 MYR 1,051

-64.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

$9,264 MYR 36.6K

-51.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 MYR 237

$60.5 MYR 239

-0.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 MYR 91.4

$37.04 MYR 146

-37.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 284

$85.2 MYR 336

-15.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 MYR 369

$79.1 MYR 313

18.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,525

$570 MYR 2,252

-32.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,056

$365 MYR 1,440

-26.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,515

$1,079 MYR 4,262

-40.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,835

$647 MYR 2,554

-28.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,587 MYR 6,267

$4,015 MYR 15.9K

-60.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$938 MYR 3,705

$1,535 MYR 6,063

-38.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 MYR 3,008

$1,557 MYR 6,151

-51.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

-32.89%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $570 in Kuala Lumpur. 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 105% higher in Kuala Lumpur, 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 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $29 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $267 – 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

Sandakan, Sabah vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,266 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,585 in Kuala Lumpur. 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.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Kuala Lumpur, 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 $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. 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 Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,057. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur 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, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.