Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandakan, Sabah and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $844 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,303 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,761 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 33% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sandakan, Sabah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.05

$11.67 MX$202

-80.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 MYR 73.7

$41.88 MX$726

-55.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$10.40 MX$180

-55.87%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.17

$3.61 MX$62.6

-28.81%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.71

$1.47 MX$25.45

-53.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.91 MX$15.80

-72.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 MYR 9.37

$3.03 MX$52.6

-21.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.70

$4.47 MX$77.4

-22.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 6.92

$1.38 MX$23.83

26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.68

$1.84 MX$31.93

-35.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.75

$1.61 MX$27.82

-25.47%

Eggs

$2.88 MYR 11.39

$2.57 MX$44.52

12.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.09 MYR 59.6

$8.49 MX$147

77.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 MYR 13.86

$8.49 MX$147

-58.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.09 MYR 28.00

$10.99 MX$190

-35.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.37

$2.73 MX$47.25

-4.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.50 MX$25.92

-25.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 12.68

$1.96 MX$33.93

63.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$2.12 MX$36.70

-9.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.86 MX$32.30

-33.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$2.17 MX$37.67

-40.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.07 MX$18.59

4.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.88

$1.05 MX$18.18

-54.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.44

$4.19 MX$72.6

-0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.86 MYR 66.6

$10.28 MX$178

64.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$1.67 MX$28.87

14.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MYR 6.39

$2.49 MX$43.12

-34.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.54 MX$9.37

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 47.43

$26.27 MX$455

-54.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.73

$3.10 MX$53.8

-61.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 MYR 3.93

$2.46 MX$42.66

-59.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 MYR 23.03

$3.24 MX$56.1

79.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$1.26 MX$21.83

-60.32%

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

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-2.36%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

20.22%

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

$47.91 MYR 189

$84.0 MX$1,456

-42.96%

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

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$22.21 MX$385

-84.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.38 MYR 92.4

$29.65 MX$514

-21.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.49 MYR 148

$52.6 MX$912

-28.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 23.81

$18.34 MX$318

-67.12%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 MYR 11.09

$4.95 MX$85.7

-43.23%

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

$93.4 MYR 369

$198 MX$3,438

-52.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

-15.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 MYR 237

$35.95 MX$623

66.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 MYR 91.4

$40.06 MX$694

-42.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 MYR 284

$78.8 MX$1,365

-8.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 MYR 369

$86.5 MX$1,499

7.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,525

$977 MX$16.9K

-60.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,056

$471 MX$8,158

-43.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,515

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-60.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,835

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-61.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,587 MYR 6,267

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-60.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$938 MYR 3,705

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-85.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 MYR 3,008

$714 MX$12.4K

6.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-73.73%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. 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 7% 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 $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $252 – 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $844 in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 119% less in Sandakan, Sabah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen 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, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.