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 $844 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,303 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,143 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 37% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.05

$5.92 COP 21.2K

-61.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 MYR 73.7

$33.17 COP 118.7K

-43.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$7.25 COP 25.9K

-36.69%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.17

$1.71 COP 6,137

50.29%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.71

$1.09 COP 3,915

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.77 COP 2,743

-67.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 MYR 9.37

$1.75 COP 6,254

35.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.70

$3.18 COP 11.4K

9.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 6.92

$1.06 COP 3,792

65.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.68

$1.30 COP 4,657

-8.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.75

$1.38 COP 4,926

-13.04%

Eggs

$2.88 MYR 11.39

$2.21 COP 7,908

30.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 MYR 59.6

$4.52 COP 16.2K

233.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 MYR 13.86

$5.80 COP 20.7K

-39.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.09 MYR 28.00

$8.97 COP 32.1K

-20.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.37

$2.29 COP 8,182

14.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.06 COP 3,791

5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 12.68

$1.51 COP 5,411

112.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.36 COP 4,869

40.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.16 COP 4,146

6.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$1.17 COP 4,174

10.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$0.83 COP 2,960

34.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.88

$0.85 COP 3,043

-43.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.44

$2.35 COP 8,423

77.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.86 MYR 66.6

$11.09 COP 39.7K

52.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$1.15 COP 4,133

66.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MYR 6.39

$2.47 COP 8,853

-34.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.79 COP 2,827

-12.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 47.43

$41.85 COP 149.8K

-71.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.73

$1.44 COP 5,140

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 MYR 3.93

$1.90 COP 6,793

-47.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 MYR 23.03

$7.70 COP 27.6K

-24.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$1.03 COP 3,680

-51.46%

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

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

$17.7K COP 63.3M

66.58%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

$27.0K COP 96.7M

4.33%

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

$47.91 MYR 189

$81.4 COP 291.4K

-41.16%

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

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$9.42 COP 33.7K

-62.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.38 MYR 92.4

$23.77 COP 85.1K

-1.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.49 MYR 148

$25.86 COP 92.6K

44.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 23.81

$19.34 COP 69.2K

-68.82%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 MYR 11.09

$4.05 COP 14.5K

-30.62%

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

$93.4 MYR 369

$312 COP 1.1M

-70.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

$6,067 COP 21.7M

-25.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 MYR 237

$58.9 COP 210.7K

1.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 MYR 91.4

$32.82 COP 117.5K

-29.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 284

$100 COP 359.6K

-28.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 MYR 369

$106 COP 380.3K

-12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,525

$490 COP 1.8M

-21.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,056

$371 COP 1.3M

-27.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,515

$838 COP 3.0M

-24.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,835

$715 COP 2.6M

-35.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,587 MYR 6,267

$2,952 COP 10.6M

-46.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$938 MYR 3,705

$1,394 COP 5.0M

-32.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 MYR 3,008

$532 COP 1.9M

43.13%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $490 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 43% 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 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $235 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 $1,266 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,544 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 $844 in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,030 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 $844, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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.