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

🙂 Solo nomad: Sandakan, Sabah is 2.3% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sandakan, Sabah is 17.7% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 19.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.32 MYR 9.13
$6.03 COP 22.7K
-61.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.10 MYR 75.2
$33.17 COP 124.7K
-42.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.79 MYR 18.86
$7.29 COP 27.4K
-34.29%
Cappuccino
$2.64 MYR 10.42
$1.63 COP 6,128
61.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MYR 2.72
$1.05 COP 3,944
-34.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.77 COP 2,896
-67.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 MYR 9.40
$1.73 COP 6,505
38.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.19
$3.18 COP 12.0K
13.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MYR 6.80
$1.07 COP 4,012
61.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 MYR 4.71
$1.31 COP 4,931
-9.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.53
$1.38 COP 5,191
-16.67%
Eggs
$2.77 MYR 10.93
$2.25 COP 8,450
23.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.29 MYR 60.3
$4.48 COP 16.9K
241.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 MYR 14.04
$5.74 COP 21.6K
-37.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.15 MYR 28.18
$8.86 COP 33.3K
-19.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MYR 10.26
$2.24 COP 8,431
16.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.58
$1.06 COP 3,985
9.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.20 MYR 12.62
$1.51 COP 5,693
111.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 MYR 7.49
$1.36 COP 5,115
39.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.72
$1.12 COP 4,215
7.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 MYR 5.00
$1.17 COP 4,397
8.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 MYR 4.46
$0.90 COP 3,392
25.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 MYR 2.00
$0.84 COP 3,147
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MYR 16.08
$2.26 COP 8,494
80.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 MYR 73.5
$9.97 COP 37.5K
87.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MYR 7.50
$1.18 COP 4,448
61.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MYR 6.64
$2.39 COP 8,986
-29.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MYR 2.68
$0.86 COP 3,230
-20.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.59 MYR 45.68
$41.45 COP 155.9K
-72.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 MYR 4.74
$1.47 COP 5,517
-18.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 MYR 4.08
$1.95 COP 7,317
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.80 MYR 22.84
$7.76 COP 29.2K
-25.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 MYR 1.96
$0.97 COP 3,637
-48.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K MYR 114.8K
$17.9K COP 67.5M
62.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K MYR 109.9K
$26.7K COP 100.5M
4.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.94 MYR 189
$81.1 COP 305.0K
-40.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.60 MYR 14.19
$9.40 COP 35.4K
-61.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.43 MYR 92.3
$23.61 COP 88.8K
-0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.62 MYR 144
$25.55 COP 96.0K
43.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.72 MYR 22.53
$19.29 COP 72.5K
-70.35%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80 MYR 11.03
$4.10 COP 15.4K
-31.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.2 MYR 375
$306 COP 1.2M
-68.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,471 MYR 17.6K
$5,899 COP 22.2M
-24.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 MYR 236
$59.8 COP 224.9K
-0.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.91 MYR 90.3
$31.96 COP 120.2K
-28.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 MYR 275
$103 COP 386.2K
-32.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 MYR 372
$108 COP 405.6K
-12.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 MYR 1,553
$483 COP 1.8M
-18.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 MYR 1,043
$377 COP 1.4M
-29.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$651 MYR 2,564
$822 COP 3.1M
-20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 MYR 1,840
$721 COP 2.7M
-35.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,904 MYR 7,501
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-31.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$993 MYR 3,913
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-24.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandakan, Sabah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$757 MYR 2,982
$538 COP 2.0M
40.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
13.43
-77.66%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: March 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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