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 $970 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,685 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,251 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 13% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sandakan, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Sandakan, Sabah 30% lower, Kuala Lumpur 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 MYR 15.42

$5.07 MYR 20.62

-25.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.12 MYR 81.8

$29.14 MYR 119

-30.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 19.91

$4.81 MYR 19.56

1.87%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.18

$3.17 MYR 12.89

-5.68%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$0.82 MYR 3.32

-2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.73

$0.46 MYR 1.89

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 MYR 15.00

$4.43 MYR 18.02

-16.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.18

$6.00 MYR 24.40

-25.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.56

$2.12 MYR 8.61

-12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.27

$1.11 MYR 4.52

-5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.18

$2.10 MYR 8.55

-27.62%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$2.49 MYR 10.12

-24.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.56 MYR 55.2

$15.53 MYR 63.2

-12.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.61

$4.93 MYR 20.07

-12.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.96 MYR 40.53

$9.63 MYR 39.17

3.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 MYR 13.28

$3.38 MYR 13.76

-3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.20

$1.87 MYR 7.61

-5.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.88

$2.39 MYR 9.71

1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.59

$1.63 MYR 6.63

-0.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.41

$1.36 MYR 5.55

-2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.45 MYR 5.91

-17.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.15 MYR 4.68

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-22.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 MYR 18.36

$4.41 MYR 17.96

2.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 78.0

$18.84 MYR 76.7

1.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$3.54 MYR 14.42

-14.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.22

$5.03 MYR 20.45

-25.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.77 MYR 3.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.63 MYR 51.4

$12.27 MYR 49.93

2.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$1.21 MYR 4.91

4.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$1.23 MYR 4.99

-60.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 MYR 30.37

$4.93 MYR 20.04

51.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$0.76 MYR 3.11

-3.95%

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

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

$42.8K MYR 174.0K

0.57%

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

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

$35.4K MYR 144.0K

-0.88%

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

$49.67 MYR 202

$63.5 MYR 258

-21.72%

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

$9.87 MYR 40.13

$9.41 MYR 38.29

4.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.51 MYR 116

$26.74 MYR 109

6.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 MYR 169

$50.4 MYR 205

-17.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MYR 26.80

$7.64 MYR 31.07

-13.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 20.00

$5.54 MYR 22.55

-11.19%

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

$176 MYR 715

$302 MYR 1,230

-41.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

$12.7K MYR 51.6K

-60.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 250

$73.6 MYR 299

-16.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 MYR 141

$42.08 MYR 171

-17.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 MYR 329

$88.7 MYR 361

-8.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 MYR 284

$97.0 MYR 395

-27.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MYR 1,720

$607 MYR 2,470

-30.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MYR 1,366

$367 MYR 1,492

-8.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,886

$1,213 MYR 4,933

-41.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 MYR 2,023

$642 MYR 2,612

-22.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 MYR 8,274

$4,079 MYR 16.6K

-50.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,142 MYR 4,644

$1,535 MYR 6,246

-25.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,246 MYR 5,068

$1,493 MYR 6,075

-16.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $607 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 20% 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 $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $283 – 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 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,455 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,680 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 9% 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 $20.00 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 $970, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,120. 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.