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

🙂 Solo nomad: Sandakan, Sabah is 6.2% cheaper than Ubud without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sandakan, Sabah is 4.5% more expensive than Ubud without rent, and 13.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31 MYR 9.73
$3 Rp 48.8K
-23.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.93 MYR 79.8
$12.52 Rp 203.2K
51.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.85 MYR 20.43
$3.18 Rp 51.6K
52.52%
Cappuccino
$2.71 MYR 11.41
$2.21 Rp 35.9K
22.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MYR 2.78
$1.1 Rp 17.9K
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 MYR 0.96
$0.26 Rp 4,217
-11.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 MYR 9.9
$2.5 Rp 40.5K
-6.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 MYR 14.98
$3.2 Rp 51.9K
10.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 MYR 7.02
$1.49 Rp 24.2K
11.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 MYR 5.1
$1.67 Rp 27K
-27.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.87
$1.14 Rp 18.5K
1.75%
Eggs
$2.85 MYR 12.01
$2.27 Rp 36.9K
25.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.97 MYR 63.1
$13.94 Rp 226.3K
7.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 MYR 15.01
$4 Rp 64.8K
-11.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.19 MYR 30.3
$11.3 Rp 183.4K
-36.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MYR 11.18
$3.6 Rp 58.4K
-26.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 MYR 4.93
$1.53 Rp 24.8K
-23.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 MYR 13.32
$2.65 Rp 43K
19.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 MYR 8.21
$1.38 Rp 22.4K
41.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 MYR 5.17
$1.58 Rp 25.6K
-22.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 MYR 5.36
$2.16 Rp 35.1K
-41.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MYR 4.54
$1.04 Rp 16.9K
3.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 MYR 1.97
$0.56 Rp 9,114
-16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.2 MYR 17.71
$2.23 Rp 36.3K
88.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.92 MYR 79.8
$14.98 Rp 243.2K
26.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MYR 8.14
$2.43 Rp 39.5K
-20.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MYR 6.79
$2.64 Rp 42.8K
-39.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MYR 3.13
$0.32 Rp 5,203
131.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.71 MYR 49.36
$10.12 Rp 164.3K
15.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 MYR 4.92
$0.49 Rp 7,888
138.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 MYR 4.14
$0.34 Rp 5,573
188.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.75 MYR 24.27
$6.04 Rp 98K
-4.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.93
$0.73 Rp 11.9K
-36.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K MYR 123.7K
$26.2K Rp 425.6M
11.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MYR 114.6K
$31.9K Rp 518.5M
-14.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.98 MYR 198
$62.6 Rp 1M
-24.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.64 MYR 15.33
$4.1 Rp 66.6K
-11.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 MYR 100
$24.32 Rp 394.7K
-2.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.2 MYR 153
$22.6 Rp 366.9K
60.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.79 MYR 24.4
$6.26 Rp 101.5K
-7.51%
Cinema Ticket
$2.75 MYR 11.6
$3.29 Rp 53.4K
-16.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.7 MYR 403
$93.2 Rp 1.5M
2.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,548 MYR 19.2K
$6,098 Rp 99M
-25.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 MYR 247
$52.8 Rp 857.4K
10.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.19 MYR 97.8
$24.84 Rp 403.3K
-6.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71 MYR 300
$85.2 Rp 1.4M
-16.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5 MYR 390
$72.5 Rp 1.2M
27.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$392 MYR 1,654
$259 Rp 4.2M
51.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 MYR 1,120
$159 Rp 2.6M
67.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$644 MYR 2,714
$578 Rp 9.4M
11.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MYR 1,986
$336 Rp 5.5M
40.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,722 MYR 7,261
$1,000 Rp 16.2M
72.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,151 MYR 4,852
$860 Rp 14M
33.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 MYR 2,965
$182 Rp 3M
285.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
13.28
-77.41%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ubud: October 29, 2025

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