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

😐 Solo nomad: Ubud, Bali is 3.8% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 68.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ubud, Bali is 59.9% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 120.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47 Rp 58.7K
$2.32 MYR 9.15
49.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.10 Rp 543.9K
$19.10 MYR 75.4
68.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 82.4K
$4.79 MYR 18.90
1.46%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 47.8K
$2.64 MYR 10.44
6.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.3K
$0.69 MYR 2.73
98.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 12.4K
$0.25 MYR 0.99
192.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 Rp 49.1K
$2.39 MYR 9.43
21.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 Rp 66.4K
$3.60 MYR 14.23
8.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 29.5K
$1.73 MYR 6.82
0.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 Rp 41.4K
$1.19 MYR 4.72
105.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 19.8K
$1.15 MYR 4.54
1.74%
Eggs
$2.35 Rp 39.9K
$2.77 MYR 10.96
-15.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.78 Rp 250.4K
$15.29 MYR 60.4
-3.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.25 Rp 72.0K
$3.56 MYR 14.07
19.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 206.9K
$7.15 MYR 28.25
70.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 63.0K
$2.61 MYR 10.29
42.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 26.4K
$1.16 MYR 4.59
34.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 45.6K
$3.20 MYR 12.66
-15.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 39.6K
$1.90 MYR 7.51
23.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 33.9K
$1.20 MYR 4.73
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 39.1K
$1.27 MYR 5.01
81.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.2K
$1.13 MYR 4.47
-10.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 12.3K
$0.51 MYR 2.00
43.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 Rp 56.2K
$4.08 MYR 16.12
-18.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.14 Rp 426.0K
$18.66 MYR 73.7
34.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 49.1K
$1.90 MYR 7.52
52.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 47.0K
$1.68 MYR 6.65
64.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,546
$0.68 MYR 2.69
-60.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.26 Rp 139.9K
$11.59 MYR 45.80
-28.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,667
$1.20 MYR 4.75
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,159
$1.04 MYR 4.09
-59.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.26 Rp 106.0K
$5.80 MYR 22.90
7.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 14.7K
$0.50 MYR 1.96
72.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K Rp 438.7M
$29.1K MYR 115.1K
-11.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 540.4M
$27.9K MYR 110.1K
14.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$47.94 MYR 189
68.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.98 Rp 67.4K
$3.60 MYR 14.23
10.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.55 Rp 399.0K
$23.43 MYR 92.5
0.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.3 Rp 1.6M
$36.62 MYR 145
165.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.42 Rp 108.8K
$5.72 MYR 22.59
12.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.16 Rp 70.6K
$2.80 MYR 11.05
48.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$294 Rp 5.0M
$95.2 MYR 376
208.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,548 Rp 110.9M
$4,471 MYR 17.7K
46.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 917.8K
$59.8 MYR 236
-9.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.95 Rp 643.0K
$22.91 MYR 90.5
65.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 Rp 1.5M
$69.8 MYR 276
26.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1 Rp 1.3M
$94.3 MYR 373
-17.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 Rp 16.9M
$394 MYR 1,557
152.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 Rp 11.3M
$265 MYR 1,046
152.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,391 Rp 57.5M
$651 MYR 2,571
421.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 Rp 35.2M
$467 MYR 1,845
345.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,037 Rp 51.5M
$1,904 MYR 7,520
59.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,378 Rp 40.3M
$993 MYR 3,923
139.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$180 Rp 3.0M
$757 MYR 2,990
-76.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3
342.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: March 1, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: March 2, 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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