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: $838 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $867 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,368 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,870 in Penang.

Living in Sandakan, Sabah costs roughly 3% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 MYR 9.82

$3.08 MYR 12.58

-22.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.83 MYR 77.0

$21.63 MYR 88.4

-12.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.91

$4.15 MYR 16.96

11.57%

Cappuccino

$2.59 MYR 10.57

$2.97 MYR 12.13

-12.79%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.33 MYR 1.37

-30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 MYR 9.80

$4.29 MYR 17.52

-44.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MYR 14.10

$4.45 MYR 18.20

-22.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MYR 6.79

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-11.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$1.03 MYR 4.22

16.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.68

$2.06 MYR 8.41

-44.66%

Eggs

$2.76 MYR 11.26

$2.12 MYR 8.67

30.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 MYR 62.6

$17.00 MYR 69.5

-9.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 MYR 14.01

$5.19 MYR 21.20

-33.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 MYR 29.24

$14.91 MYR 61.0

-51.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.46

$2.91 MYR 11.89

-12.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-18.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 MYR 13.21

$2.66 MYR 10.89

21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.09

$2.10 MYR 8.60

-5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.13 MYR 4.62

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.20 MYR 4.91

11.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$0.89 MYR 3.62

25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.02

$4.19 MYR 17.13

-0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.39 MYR 71.1

$19.28 MYR 78.8

-9.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 MYR 7.82

$2.65 MYR 10.84

-27.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$3.40 MYR 13.89

-50.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.45 MYR 1.83

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.00 MYR 49.04

$17.76 MYR 72.6

-32.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.74 MYR 3.04

55.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.23

$0.51 MYR 2.07

101.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 MYR 24.69

$6.90 MYR 28.21

-12.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

-12.30%

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

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

$27.3K MYR 111.8K

2.65%

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

$46.63 MYR 191

$39.05 MYR 160

19.41%

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

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$10.17 MYR 41.58

-65.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.79 MYR 97.2

$31.51 MYR 129

-24.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.28 MYR 148

$32.40 MYR 132

11.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 MYR 24.53

$5.53 MYR 22.61

8.50%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 MYR 11.75

$4.81 MYR 19.64

-40.33%

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

$94.8 MYR 388

$240 MYR 979

-60.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

$6,182 MYR 25.3K

-28.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$55.3 MYR 226

7.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.95 MYR 93.8

$29.23 MYR 119

-21.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 293

$61.1 MYR 250

17.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 MYR 392

$52.7 MYR 215

82.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,598

$382 MYR 1,559

2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,092

$225 MYR 921

18.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 MYR 2,664

$636 MYR 2,598

2.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 MYR 1,958

$522 MYR 2,133

-8.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,998 MYR 8,166

$2,203 MYR 9,004

-9.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$995 MYR 4,065

$1,160 MYR 4,740

-14.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,215 MYR 4,965

$942 MYR 3,849

29.00%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Sandakan, Sabah and $382 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 $236 vs $286 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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, 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: $391 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $382 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 $838 per month in Sandakan, Sabah versus $867 in Penang – a 3% 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 3% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.