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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $838 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Sandakan, Sabah is roughly 8% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 MYR 9.82

$2.80 MYR 11.43

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.83 MYR 77.0

$20.41 MYR 83.4

-7.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.91

$4.59 MYR 18.77

0.87%

Cappuccino

$2.59 MYR 10.57

$2.58 MYR 10.53

0.39%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.71 MYR 2.90

-4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.30 MYR 1.21

-23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 MYR 9.80

$2.88 MYR 11.77

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MYR 14.10

$3.74 MYR 15.29

-7.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MYR 6.79

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-12.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$1.08 MYR 4.42

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.68

$1.05 MYR 4.31

8.57%

Eggs

$2.76 MYR 11.26

$2.19 MYR 8.95

26.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 MYR 62.6

$9.58 MYR 39.17

60.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 MYR 14.01

$3.84 MYR 15.71

-10.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 MYR 29.24

$8.22 MYR 33.60

-12.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.46

$2.98 MYR 12.19

-14.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$1.15 MYR 4.69

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 MYR 13.21

$2.62 MYR 10.71

23.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.09

$1.77 MYR 7.24

11.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.15 MYR 4.71

3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.24 MYR 5.08

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$1.71 MYR 6.98

-34.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.52 MYR 2.13

-9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.02

$4.19 MYR 17.12

-0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.39 MYR 71.1

$20.46 MYR 83.6

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.82

$3.88 MYR 15.86

-50.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$3.41 MYR 13.93

-50.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.23 MYR 0.94

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 MYR 49.04

$11.80 MYR 48.21

1.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.96 MYR 3.94

19.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.23

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-8.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 MYR 24.69

$1.90 MYR 7.78

217.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

-34.90%

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

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

-24.63%

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

$46.63 MYR 191

$41.82 MYR 171

11.50%

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

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$9.22 MYR 37.70

-62.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 MYR 97.2

$25.53 MYR 104

-6.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 MYR 148

$29.85 MYR 122

21.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 MYR 24.53

$9.81 MYR 40.08

-38.84%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 MYR 11.75

$4.64 MYR 18.94

-38.15%

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

$94.8 MYR 388

$143 MYR 586

-33.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

-28.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$66.3 MYR 271

-10.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.95 MYR 93.8

$31.34 MYR 128

-26.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 293

$87.5 MYR 358

-17.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 MYR 392

$71.7 MYR 293

33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,598

$284 MYR 1,160

37.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,092

$201 MYR 820

33.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 MYR 2,664

$569 MYR 2,326

14.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 MYR 1,958

$387 MYR 1,583

23.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,998 MYR 8,166

$2,088 MYR 8,535

-4.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 MYR 4,065

$1,510 MYR 6,172

-34.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,215 MYR 4,965

$530 MYR 2,167

129.12%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Sandakan, Sabah and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 129% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $243 per month, with Sandakan, Sabah cheaper across the board.

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 Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 129% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $391 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $284 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kuching – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Sandakan, Sabah versus $777 in Kuching – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kuching gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sandakan, Sabah, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sandakan, Sabah and Kuching are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.