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 $970 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 41% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Sandakan, Sabah sits 30% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 MYR 15.42

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-52.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.12 MYR 81.8

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-58.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 19.91

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-47.98%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.18

$2.94 COP 9,040

1.70%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$1.86 COP 5,735

-56.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.73

$1.46 COP 4,479

-71.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 MYR 15.00

$3.21 COP 9,882

14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.18

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-21.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.56

$1.44 COP 4,428

29.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.27

$2.40 COP 7,389

-56.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.18

$1.70 COP 5,228

-10.59%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$2.89 COP 8,896

-34.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.56 MYR 55.2

$10.06 COP 30.9K

34.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.61

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-56.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.96 MYR 40.53

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-29.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 MYR 13.28

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-17.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.20

$1.58 COP 4,878

12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.88

$2.15 COP 6,624

13.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.59

$2.30 COP 7,078

-29.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.41

$2.00 COP 6,169

-33.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.51 COP 4,646

-21.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.20 COP 3,701

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$1.28 COP 3,946

-55.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 MYR 18.36

$3.84 COP 11.8K

17.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 78.0

$14.01 COP 43.1K

36.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$1.71 COP 5,256

77.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.22

$2.74 COP 8,440

36.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$1.25 COP 3,834

-38.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.63 MYR 51.4

$77.9 COP 239.7K

-83.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$1.31 COP 4,016

-3.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$2.17 COP 6,680

-77.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 MYR 30.37

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-9.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$1.36 COP 4,172

-46.32%

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

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

$27.5K COP 84.5M

56.58%

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

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-4.00%

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

$49.67 MYR 202

$169 COP 519.2K

-70.56%

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

$9.87 MYR 40.13

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-27.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.51 MYR 116

$28.32 COP 87.2K

0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 MYR 169

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-9.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MYR 26.80

$17.22 COP 53.0K

-61.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 20.00

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-26.02%

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

$176 MYR 715

$803 COP 2.5M

-78.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-45.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 250

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-29.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 MYR 141

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-41.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 MYR 329

$139 COP 427.5K

-41.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 MYR 284

$102 COP 314.0K

-31.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MYR 1,720

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-60.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MYR 1,366

$653 COP 2.0M

-48.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,886

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-63.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 MYR 2,023

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-52.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 MYR 8,274

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-50.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,142 MYR 4,644

$1,697 COP 5.2M

-32.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,246 MYR 5,068

$655 COP 2.0M

90.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

10.94

-61.61%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,071 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 90% 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 $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $300 – making Sandakan, Sabah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 69%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,455 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $2,462 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 $20.00 in Sandakan, Sabah and $48.00 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 $970 in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,641 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 $970, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.