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

🙂 Solo nomad: Sandakan, Sabah is 8.2% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Sandakan, Sabah is 12.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 MYR 9.6

$5.91 COP 22.5K

-60.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.49 MYR 76.3

$32.19 COP 122.7K

-42.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.9

$7.21 COP 27.5K

-33.15%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MYR 10.9

$1.65 COP 6,284

60.00%

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

$0.7 MYR 2.88

$1.11 COP 4,224

-36.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.95

$0.71 COP 2,716

-67.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 MYR 9.67

$1.74 COP 6,637

34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 14.48

$3.19 COP 12.2K

10.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MYR 7.16

$1.1 COP 4,176

57.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.93

$1.3 COP 4,965

-8.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.78

$1.39 COP 5,302

-16.55%

Eggs

$2.75 MYR 11.36

$2.18 COP 8,302

26.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.27 MYR 63

$4.54 COP 17.3K

236.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 MYR 14.76

$5.85 COP 22.3K

-38.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7 MYR 28.89

$8.62 COP 32.8K

-18.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.53

$2.24 COP 8,539

13.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.65

$1.07 COP 4,080

5.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 MYR 13.44

$1.53 COP 5,822

113.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.88

$1.41 COP 5,377

35.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.11

$1.12 COP 4,269

10.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.52

$1.14 COP 4,343

17.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MYR 4.41

$0.9 COP 3,418

18.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.1

$0.91 COP 3,481

-43.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 MYR 16.67

$2.34 COP 8,932

72.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.57 MYR 80.8

$9.94 COP 37.9K

96.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 MYR 7.72

$1.15 COP 4,369

62.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 MYR 6.99

$2.38 COP 9,066

-28.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.7 MYR 2.88

$0.81 COP 3,069

-13.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12 MYR 49.54

$40.57 COP 154.6K

-70.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.76

$1.46 COP 5,572

-21.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.07

$1.99 COP 7,570

-50.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.74 MYR 23.69

$7.96 COP 30.3K

-27.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.05

$1.01 COP 3,844

-50.50%

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

$28.9K MYR 119.2K

$17.7K COP 67.3M

63.58%

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

$27.5K MYR 113.6K

$26.8K COP 102.1M

2.67%

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

$47.66 MYR 197

$80.8 COP 308K

-41.04%

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

$3.52 MYR 14.55

$9.39 COP 35.8K

-62.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.93 MYR 98.8

$23.51 COP 89.6K

1.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.56 MYR 155

$25.61 COP 97.6K

46.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 MYR 24.05

$18.95 COP 72.2K

-69.23%

Cinema Ticket

$2.77 MYR 11.42

$4.12 COP 15.7K

-32.77%

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

$92.5 MYR 382

$306 COP 1.2M

-69.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,507 MYR 18.6K

$5,875 COP 22.4M

-23.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 MYR 246

$58.8 COP 224K

1.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.05 MYR 95.1

$31.9 COP 121.5K

-27.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 MYR 294

$102 COP 387.4K

-30.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.8 MYR 387

$108 COP 413K

-13.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 MYR 1,582

$478 COP 1.8M

-19.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,110

$375 COP 1.4M

-28.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,707

$838 COP 3.2M

-21.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 MYR 1,911

$727 COP 2.8M

-36.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 MYR 7,009

$2,251 COP 8.6M

-24.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,244 MYR 5,135

$1,598 COP 6.1M

-22.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 MYR 3,011

$517 COP 2M

41.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-77.66%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: November 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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