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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $836 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,723 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,901 in Penang.

Living in Sandakan, Sabah costs roughly 4% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sandakan, Sabah 38% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 MYR 9.50

$3.04 MYR 12.34

-23.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 MYR 77.0

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-12.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 MYR 18.85

$4.33 MYR 17.57

7.39%

Cappuccino

$2.60 MYR 10.55

$2.94 MYR 11.90

-11.56%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$0.68 MYR 2.78

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.36 MYR 1.48

-30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 MYR 9.33

$4.40 MYR 17.85

-47.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 MYR 14.09

$4.46 MYR 18.10

-21.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MYR 6.98

$1.81 MYR 7.32

-4.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$0.99 MYR 4.00

25.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-43.35%

Eggs

$2.79 MYR 11.31

$2.13 MYR 8.65

30.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 MYR 62.1

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-11.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.61 MYR 14.66

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-30.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.90 MYR 27.97

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-54.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.44

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-10.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.57

$1.47 MYR 5.96

-23.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 MYR 13.35

$2.57 MYR 10.43

28.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MYR 8.11

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-5.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.96

$1.18 MYR 4.79

3.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.18

$1.16 MYR 4.71

10.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.37

$0.95 MYR 3.87

13.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.05

$0.49 MYR 1.97

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.01

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-3.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.37 MYR 82.6

$19.63 MYR 79.6

3.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$2.62 MYR 10.61

-27.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MYR 6.59

$3.40 MYR 13.80

-52.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.45 MYR 1.82

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.01

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-33.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$0.69 MYR 2.80

66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.20

$0.54 MYR 2.21

90.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 MYR 23.77

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-18.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.47 MYR 1.89

-2.13%

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

$29.0K MYR 117.6K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

-11.90%

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

$28.2K MYR 114.4K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

3.45%

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

$47.00 MYR 191

$38.60 MYR 157

21.76%

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

$3.56 MYR 14.43

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-64.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.54 MYR 95.5

$31.44 MYR 127

-25.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.45 MYR 152

$33.04 MYR 134

13.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.50

$5.42 MYR 21.97

6.83%

Cinema Ticket

$2.79 MYR 11.33

$4.91 MYR 19.90

-43.18%

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

$93.4 MYR 379

$238 MYR 963

-60.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,465 MYR 18.1K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

-27.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 241

$54.6 MYR 221

8.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.40 MYR 90.8

$28.39 MYR 115

-21.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.9 MYR 283

$60.5 MYR 245

15.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 MYR 380

$53.5 MYR 217

75.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,571

$387 MYR 1,569

0.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 MYR 1,113

$230 MYR 933

19.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,581

$640 MYR 2,597

-0.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,886

$525 MYR 2,131

-11.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,042 MYR 8,280

$2,250 MYR 9,123

-9.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,040 MYR 4,217

$1,186 MYR 4,807

-12.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,225 MYR 4,968

$951 MYR 3,858

28.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

-27.88%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: June 8, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Sandakan, Sabah and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $287 per month, with Sandakan, Sabah cheaper across the board.

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 Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sandakan, Sabah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Sandakan, Sabah pays 29% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $387 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sandakan, Sabah – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Sandakan, Sabah versus $869 in Penang – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sandakan, Sabah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Sandakan, Sabah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sandakan, Sabah and Penang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sandakan, Sabah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.