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 $838 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,292 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,747 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 16% 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 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 MYR 9.82

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-59.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.83 MYR 77.0

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-42.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.91

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-37.69%

Cappuccino

$2.59 MYR 10.57

$1.65 COP 5,276

56.97%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$1.10 COP 3,514

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.78 COP 2,491

-70.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 MYR 9.80

$1.72 COP 5,484

39.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MYR 14.10

$3.18 COP 10.1K

8.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MYR 6.79

$1.10 COP 3,521

50.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$1.26 COP 4,015

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.68

$1.38 COP 4,407

-17.39%

Eggs

$2.76 MYR 11.26

$2.18 COP 6,950

26.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 MYR 62.6

$4.49 COP 14.3K

241.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 MYR 14.01

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-40.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 MYR 29.24

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-20.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.46

$2.32 COP 7,405

10.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$1.06 COP 3,397

11.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 MYR 13.21

$1.52 COP 4,838

112.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.09

$1.36 COP 4,327

45.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.13 COP 3,599

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.17 COP 3,738

14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$0.90 COP 2,876

24.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.90 COP 2,861

-47.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.02

$2.23 COP 7,128

86.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.39 MYR 71.1

$12.12 COP 38.7K

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.82

$1.19 COP 3,793

60.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$2.48 COP 7,920

-32.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.85 COP 2,723

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 MYR 49.04

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-71.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.42 COP 4,518

-19.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.23

$1.95 COP 6,223

-47.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 MYR 24.69

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-23.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.99 COP 3,160

-49.49%

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

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

69.78%

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

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

4.75%

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

$46.63 MYR 191

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-43.83%

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

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$9.70 COP 30.9K

-63.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 MYR 97.2

$23.52 COP 75.0K

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 MYR 148

$25.26 COP 80.6K

43.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 MYR 24.53

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-68.59%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 MYR 11.75

$3.95 COP 12.6K

-27.34%

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

$94.8 MYR 388

$316 COP 1.0M

-69.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

-26.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-1.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.95 MYR 93.8

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-27.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 293

$102 COP 324.4K

-29.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 MYR 392

$107 COP 342.8K

-10.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,598

$475 COP 1.5M

-17.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,092

$374 COP 1.2M

-28.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 MYR 2,664

$849 COP 2.7M

-23.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 MYR 1,958

$719 COP 2.3M

-33.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,998 MYR 8,166

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-38.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 MYR 4,065

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-30.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,215 MYR 4,965

$624 COP 2.0M

94.55%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $475 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 95% 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 – $236 in Sandakan, Sabah vs $193 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 20%, 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 $1,257 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,504 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 $838 in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,003 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 $838, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.