Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Kuching

🙂 Solo nomad: Sandakan, Sabah is 1.3% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 5.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Sandakan, Sabah is 8.8% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.31 MYR 9.73

$2.8 MYR 11.82

-17.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 MYR 79.8

$20.06 MYR 84.6

-5.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 20.43

$4.69 MYR 19.76

3.41%

Cappuccino

$2.71 MYR 11.41

$2.57 MYR 10.83

5.45%

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

$0.66 MYR 2.78

$0.71 MYR 3

-7.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.96

$0.32 MYR 1.37

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 MYR 9.9

$2.77 MYR 11.68

-15.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 MYR 14.98

$3.58 MYR 15.08

-0.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MYR 7.02

$1.95 MYR 8.24

-14.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 MYR 5.1

$1.13 MYR 4.77

7.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.87

$1.01 MYR 4.27

14.85%

Eggs

$2.85 MYR 12.01

$2.13 MYR 9

33.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.97 MYR 63.1

$9.36 MYR 39.48

59.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 MYR 15.01

$3.85 MYR 16.23

-7.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 MYR 30.3

$7.88 MYR 33.24

-8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 11.18

$3.02 MYR 12.72

-12.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.93

$1.1 MYR 4.64

6.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 13.32

$2.62 MYR 11.06

20.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 MYR 8.21

$1.84 MYR 7.75

5.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.17

$1.15 MYR 4.85

6.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.36

$1.22 MYR 5.16

4.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.54

$1.68 MYR 7.07

-35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MYR 1.97

$0.52 MYR 2.2

-9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.2 MYR 17.71

$4.14 MYR 17.47

1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.92 MYR 79.8

$19.41 MYR 81.8

-2.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MYR 8.14

$3.72 MYR 15.7

-48.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MYR 6.79

$3.38 MYR 14.26

-52.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.13

$0.25 MYR 1.06

196.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.71 MYR 49.36

$11.57 MYR 48.8

1.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MYR 4.92

$0.91 MYR 3.83

28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.14

$1.14 MYR 4.83

-14.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 MYR 24.27

$1.94 MYR 8.17

196.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.93

$0.5 MYR 2.11

-8.00%

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

$29.3K MYR 123.7K

$44.9K MYR 189.4K

-34.66%

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

$27.2K MYR 114.6K

$36.1K MYR 152.3K

-24.76%

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

$46.98 MYR 198

$42.14 MYR 178

11.49%

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

$3.64 MYR 15.33

$8.94 MYR 37.71

-59.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 MYR 100

$24.81 MYR 105

-4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.2 MYR 153

$29.84 MYR 126

21.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 24.4

$9.89 MYR 41.73

-41.46%

Cinema Ticket

$2.75 MYR 11.6

$4.62 MYR 19.47

-40.48%

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

$95.7 MYR 403

$144 MYR 606

-33.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,548 MYR 19.2K

$6,013 MYR 25.4K

-24.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 MYR 247

$66 MYR 278

-11.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.19 MYR 97.8

$31.77 MYR 134

-27.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71 MYR 300

$85.6 MYR 361

-16.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MYR 390

$72.2 MYR 304

28.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,654

$278 MYR 1,171

41.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 MYR 1,120

$208 MYR 877

27.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,714

$571 MYR 2,409

12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,986

$390 MYR 1,645

20.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,722 MYR 7,261

$1,881 MYR 7,934

-8.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 MYR 4,852

$1,330 MYR 5,607

-13.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 MYR 2,965

$565 MYR 2,384

24.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

-29.74%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

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