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

😐 Solo nomad: Sandakan, Sabah is 10.4% more expensive than Ubud, Bali without rent, and 15.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Sandakan, Sabah is 10.5% cheaper than Ubud, Bali without rent, and 10.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 MYR 9.6

$2.85 Rp 47.5K

-18.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.49 MYR 76.3

$12.26 Rp 204.3K

50.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.9

$3.28 Rp 54.6K

46.95%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MYR 10.9

$2.3 Rp 38.3K

14.78%

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

$0.7 MYR 2.88

$1.11 Rp 18.5K

-36.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.95

$0.26 Rp 4,324

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 MYR 9.67

$2.4 Rp 40K

-2.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 14.48

$3.15 Rp 52.5K

11.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MYR 7.16

$1.49 Rp 24.9K

16.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.93

$1.65 Rp 27.5K

-27.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.78

$1.13 Rp 18.9K

2.65%

Eggs

$2.75 MYR 11.36

$2.33 Rp 38.9K

18.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.27 MYR 63

$13.7 Rp 228.3K

11.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 MYR 14.76

$3.97 Rp 66.2K

-9.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7 MYR 28.89

$11.22 Rp 187K

-37.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.53

$3.48 Rp 57.9K

-26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.65

$1.5 Rp 25K

-24.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 MYR 13.44

$2.68 Rp 44.6K

21.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.88

$1.35 Rp 22.5K

41.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.11

$1.57 Rp 26.2K

-21.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.52

$2.1 Rp 34.9K

-36.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MYR 4.41

$1.03 Rp 17.1K

3.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.1

$0.57 Rp 9,488

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 MYR 16.67

$2.31 Rp 38.5K

74.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.57 MYR 80.8

$15.21 Rp 253.5K

28.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 MYR 7.72

$2.49 Rp 41.5K

-24.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 MYR 6.99

$2.66 Rp 44.3K

-36.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.7 MYR 2.88

$0.29 Rp 4,911

141.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12 MYR 49.54

$10.03 Rp 167.1K

19.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.76

$0.45 Rp 7,480

155.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.07

$0.34 Rp 5,748

191.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.74 MYR 23.69

$5.97 Rp 99.4K

-3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.05

$0.75 Rp 12.4K

-33.33%

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

$28.9K MYR 119.2K

$25.8K Rp 430.2M

11.90%

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

$27.5K MYR 113.6K

$31.7K Rp 528.9M

-13.30%

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

$47.66 MYR 197

$64.6 Rp 1.1M

-26.22%

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

$3.52 MYR 14.55

$4.14 Rp 69K

-14.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.93 MYR 98.8

$23.99 Rp 399.7K

-0.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.56 MYR 155

$23.29 Rp 388.1K

61.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.83 MYR 24.05

$6.19 Rp 103.1K

-5.82%

Cinema Ticket

$2.77 MYR 11.42

$3.45 Rp 57.5K

-19.71%

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

$92.5 MYR 382

$91.9 Rp 1.5M

0.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,507 MYR 18.6K

$5,912 Rp 98.5M

-23.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 MYR 246

$51.5 Rp 857.6K

15.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.05 MYR 95.1

$24.45 Rp 407.3K

-5.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 MYR 294

$84.4 Rp 1.4M

-15.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.8 MYR 387

$74.3 Rp 1.2M

26.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 MYR 1,582

$261 Rp 4.4M

46.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,110

$160 Rp 2.7M

68.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,707

$585 Rp 9.7M

12.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$463 MYR 1,911

$328 Rp 5.5M

41.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 MYR 7,009

$985 Rp 16.4M

72.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,244 MYR 5,135

$847 Rp 14.1M

46.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$730 MYR 3,011

$178 Rp 3M

310.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-77.41%

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

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: November 29, 2025

Last update for Ubud, Bali: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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