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 $970 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Sandakan, Sabah vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sandakan, Sabah is about 26% 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 30% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 MYR 15.42

$11.96 MX$203

-68.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.12 MYR 81.8

$47.38 MX$804

-57.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 19.91

$11.75 MX$199

-58.30%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.18

$4.12 MX$70.0

-27.43%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$1.40 MX$23.74

-42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.73

$0.91 MX$15.48

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.69 MYR 15.00

$3.21 MX$54.4

14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.18

$7.07 MX$120

-36.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.56

$1.68 MX$28.44

10.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.27

$2.15 MX$36.48

-51.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.18

$1.77 MX$30.10

-14.12%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$2.82 MX$47.76

-32.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.56 MYR 55.2

$9.20 MX$156

47.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.61

$9.23 MX$157

-53.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.96 MYR 40.53

$12.64 MX$214

-21.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 MYR 13.28

$2.95 MX$50.1

10.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.20

$1.58 MX$26.79

12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.88

$2.22 MX$37.70

9.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.59

$2.36 MX$40.09

-31.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.41

$1.99 MX$33.81

-33.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.98 MX$33.58

-39.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.24 MX$21.04

-3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$1.21 MX$20.55

-52.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 MYR 18.36

$4.60 MX$78.1

-1.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 78.0

$10.52 MX$178

82.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$1.69 MX$28.70

79.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.22

$2.77 MX$47.06

35.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.60 MX$10.22

28.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.63 MYR 51.4

$29.70 MX$504

-57.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$5.24 MX$88.8

-75.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$3.65 MX$61.9

-86.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 MYR 30.37

$5.78 MX$98.1

29.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$1.54 MX$26.09

-52.60%

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

$43.0K MYR 175.0K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

88.66%

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

$35.1K MYR 142.7K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

35.88%

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

$49.67 MYR 202

$90.7 MX$1,538

-45.22%

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

$9.87 MYR 40.13

$25.19 MX$427

-60.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.51 MYR 116

$31.75 MX$539

-10.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 MYR 169

$68.8 MX$1,167

-39.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MYR 26.80

$29.37 MX$498

-77.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 20.00

$4.86 MX$82.5

1.23%

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

$176 MYR 715

$226 MX$3,828

-22.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,019 MYR 20.4K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

19.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 250

$47.38 MX$804

29.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.64 MYR 141

$43.45 MX$737

-20.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 MYR 329

$80.2 MX$1,361

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 MYR 284

$91.4 MX$1,550

-23.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 MYR 1,720

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-61.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 MYR 1,366

$409 MX$6,933

-17.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,886

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-64.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 MYR 2,023

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-61.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,034 MYR 8,274

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-49.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,142 MYR 4,644

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-82.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,246 MYR 5,068

$773 MX$13.1K

61.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

11.45

-63.32%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Sandakan, Sabah versus $1,086 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 61% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $278 – 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 35%, 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 $1,455 per month in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,958 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 $970 in Sandakan, Sabah and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 135% 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 $970, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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.