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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $836 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,280 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,723 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sandakan, Sabah and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sandakan, Sabah 38% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 MYR 9.50

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-60.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 MYR 77.0

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-43.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 MYR 18.85

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-35.68%

Cappuccino

$2.60 MYR 10.55

$1.63 COP 5,687

59.51%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$1.09 COP 3,821

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.73 COP 2,548

-65.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 MYR 9.33

$1.74 COP 6,065

32.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 MYR 14.09

$3.23 COP 11.3K

7.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MYR 6.98

$1.05 COP 3,662

63.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$1.29 COP 4,515

-3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.32 COP 4,617

-12.88%

Eggs

$2.79 MYR 11.31

$2.27 COP 7,927

22.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 MYR 62.1

$4.35 COP 15.2K

251.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.61 MYR 14.66

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-38.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.90 MYR 27.97

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-19.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.44

$2.25 COP 7,844

14.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.57

$1.07 COP 3,733

5.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 MYR 13.35

$1.52 COP 5,322

116.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MYR 8.11

$1.42 COP 4,964

40.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.96

$1.17 COP 4,084

4.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.18

$1.17 COP 4,077

9.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.37

$0.89 COP 3,096

21.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.05

$0.90 COP 3,146

-43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.01

$2.25 COP 7,837

86.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.37 MYR 82.6

$11.04 COP 38.5K

84.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$1.14 COP 3,977

67.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MYR 6.59

$2.38 COP 8,301

-31.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.84 COP 2,916

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.01

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-72.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.41 COP 4,912

-18.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.20

$1.90 COP 6,634

-45.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 MYR 23.77

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-24.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.01 COP 3,509

-54.46%

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

$29.0K MYR 117.6K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

64.99%

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

$28.2K MYR 114.4K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

6.47%

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

$47.00 MYR 191

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-43.83%

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

$3.56 MYR 14.43

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-62.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.54 MYR 95.5

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-2.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.45 MYR 152

$25.31 COP 88.3K

47.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.50

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-69.75%

Cinema Ticket

$2.79 MYR 11.33

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-31.95%

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

$93.4 MYR 379

$312 COP 1.1M

-70.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,465 MYR 18.1K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-25.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 241

$58.0 COP 202.6K

2.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.40 MYR 90.8

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-31.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 MYR 283

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 MYR 380

$109 COP 378.8K

-13.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,571

$482 COP 1.7M

-19.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 MYR 1,113

$379 COP 1.3M

-27.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,581

$837 COP 2.9M

-23.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,886

$723 COP 2.5M

-35.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,042 MYR 8,280

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-28.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,040 MYR 4,217

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-14.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,225 MYR 4,968

$541 COP 1.9M

126.49%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 126% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Sandakan, Sabah vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,254 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sandakan, Sabah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $836 in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sandakan, Sabah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sandakan, Sabah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.