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 3.7% cheaper than Ubud, Bali without rent, and 40.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sandakan, Sabah is 37.5% cheaper than Ubud, Bali without rent, and 54.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.32 MYR 9.13
$3.47 Rp 58.7K
-33.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.10 MYR 75.2
$32.10 Rp 543.7K
-40.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.79 MYR 18.86
$4.86 Rp 82.3K
-1.44%
Cappuccino
$2.64 MYR 10.42
$2.82 Rp 47.8K
-6.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MYR 2.72
$1.37 Rp 23.3K
-49.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.73 Rp 12.4K
-65.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 MYR 9.40
$2.90 Rp 49.1K
-17.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.19
$3.92 Rp 66.4K
-8.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MYR 6.80
$1.74 Rp 29.5K
-0.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 MYR 4.71
$2.44 Rp 41.4K
-51.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.53
$1.17 Rp 19.8K
-1.71%
Eggs
$2.77 MYR 10.93
$2.35 Rp 39.9K
17.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.29 MYR 60.3
$14.78 Rp 250.3K
3.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 MYR 14.04
$4.25 Rp 72.0K
-16.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.15 MYR 28.18
$12.21 Rp 206.9K
-41.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MYR 10.26
$3.72 Rp 63.0K
-29.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.58
$1.56 Rp 26.3K
-25.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.20 MYR 12.62
$2.69 Rp 45.6K
18.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 MYR 7.49
$2.34 Rp 39.6K
-18.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.72
$2.00 Rp 33.9K
-40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 MYR 5.00
$2.31 Rp 39.1K
-45.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 MYR 4.46
$1.01 Rp 17.2K
11.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 MYR 2.00
$0.73 Rp 12.3K
-30.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MYR 16.08
$3.31 Rp 56.1K
23.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 MYR 73.5
$25.14 Rp 425.9K
-25.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MYR 7.50
$2.90 Rp 49.1K
-34.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MYR 6.64
$2.77 Rp 46.9K
-39.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MYR 2.68
$0.27 Rp 4,544
151.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.59 MYR 45.68
$8.26 Rp 139.9K
40.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 MYR 4.74
$0.45 Rp 7,664
166.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 MYR 4.08
$0.42 Rp 7,157
147.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.80 MYR 22.84
$6.26 Rp 106.0K
-7.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 MYR 1.96
$0.86 Rp 14.6K
-41.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K MYR 114.8K
$25.9K Rp 438.6M
12.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K MYR 109.9K
$31.9K Rp 540.2M
-12.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.94 MYR 189
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-40.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.60 MYR 14.19
$3.98 Rp 67.3K
-9.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.43 MYR 92.3
$23.55 Rp 398.8K
-0.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.62 MYR 144
$97.3 Rp 1.6M
-62.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.72 MYR 22.53
$6.42 Rp 108.8K
-10.90%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80 MYR 11.03
$4.16 Rp 70.5K
-32.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.2 MYR 375
$294 Rp 5.0M
-67.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,471 MYR 17.6K
$6,548 Rp 110.9M
-31.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 MYR 236
$54.2 Rp 917.5K
10.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.91 MYR 90.3
$37.95 Rp 642.8K
-39.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 MYR 275
$88.1 Rp 1.5M
-20.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 MYR 372
$78.1 Rp 1.3M
20.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 MYR 1,553
$995 Rp 16.9M
-60.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 MYR 1,043
$668 Rp 11.3M
-60.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$651 MYR 2,564
$3,391 Rp 57.4M
-80.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 MYR 1,840
$2,080 Rp 35.2M
-77.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,904 MYR 7,501
$3,037 Rp 51.4M
-37.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$993 MYR 3,913
$2,378 Rp 40.3M
-58.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandakan, Sabah
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$757 MYR 2,982
$180 Rp 3.0M
321.59%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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