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: $844 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $799 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,238 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,761 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,677 in Kuching.

Living in Sandakan, Sabah is roughly 6% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.05

$2.89 MYR 11.42

-20.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 MYR 73.7

$20.23 MYR 79.9

-7.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$4.76 MYR 18.81

-3.57%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.17

$2.57 MYR 10.15

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

$0.69 MYR 2.71

$0.71 MYR 2.81

-2.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.30 MYR 1.17

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 MYR 9.37

$2.75 MYR 10.87

-13.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.70

$3.58 MYR 14.13

-3.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 6.92

$1.94 MYR 7.68

-9.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.68

$1.12 MYR 4.44

6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.75

$1.07 MYR 4.21

12.15%

Eggs

$2.88 MYR 11.39

$2.18 MYR 8.61

32.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 MYR 59.6

$9.35 MYR 36.93

61.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 MYR 13.86

$3.74 MYR 14.76

-6.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.09 MYR 28.00

$8.02 MYR 31.69

-11.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.37

$3.07 MYR 12.12

-14.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.11 MYR 4.37

0.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 12.68

$2.53 MYR 9.99

26.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.77 MYR 6.98

7.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.15 MYR 4.56

6.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$1.20 MYR 4.72

7.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.67 MYR 6.60

-32.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.88

$0.52 MYR 2.07

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.44

$4.17 MYR 16.47

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.86 MYR 66.6

$21.61 MYR 85.4

-21.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$3.84 MYR 15.15

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MYR 6.39

$3.51 MYR 13.87

-53.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.23 MYR 0.90

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 47.43

$11.59 MYR 45.77

3.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.73

$0.98 MYR 3.88

22.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 MYR 3.93

$1.09 MYR 4.32

-8.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 MYR 23.03

$1.85 MYR 7.31

215.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.47 MYR 1.84

6.38%

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

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

-34.08%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

-24.40%

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

$47.91 MYR 189

$42.29 MYR 167

13.29%

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

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$8.83 MYR 34.86

-60.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.38 MYR 92.4

$25.43 MYR 100

-8.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.49 MYR 148

$29.59 MYR 117

26.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 23.81

$9.61 MYR 37.95

-37.25%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 MYR 11.09

$4.67 MYR 18.46

-39.83%

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

$93.4 MYR 369

$141 MYR 559

-33.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

-26.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 MYR 237

$65.0 MYR 257

-7.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 MYR 91.4

$32.44 MYR 128

-28.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 284

$86.6 MYR 342

-17.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 MYR 369

$73.0 MYR 288

27.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,525

$279 MYR 1,103

38.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,056

$203 MYR 802

31.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,515

$564 MYR 2,227

12.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,835

$392 MYR 1,548

18.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,587 MYR 6,267

$2,160 MYR 8,534

-26.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$938 MYR 3,705

$1,556 MYR 6,145

-39.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 MYR 3,008

$555 MYR 2,192

37.25%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kuching: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Sandakan, Sabah and $279 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 37% 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 in Sandakan, Sabah vs $20 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $244 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 37% more on average, 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: $386 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $279 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 $844 per month in Sandakan, Sabah versus $799 in Kuching – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sandakan, Sabah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.