City in Sabah, Malaysia
Cost of living in Kota Kinabalu
How much a month costs in Kota Kinabalu
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $979–1,470 (RM4,000–6,000).
Prices in Kota Kinabalu
Typical 2026 ranges in MYR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | MYR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | RM1,500–2,800 | $367–686 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | RM900–1,800 | $220–441 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | RM30–70 | $7.3–17.1 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | RM130–300 | $32–73 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | RM8–15 | $2.0–3.7 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | RM30–65 | $7.3–15.9 |
| Cappuccino | RM9–16 | $2.2–3.9 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | RM15–30 | $3.7–7.3 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | RM2–4 | $0.49–0.98 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | RM10–20 | $2.4–4.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | RM100–220 | $24–54 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | RM30–60 | $7.3–14.7 |
Value for money: 81/100
A value score of 81/100 means Kota Kinabalu gives more quality of life per dollar than 80% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 67/100. It's the 10th most affordable of 16 places we cover in Malaysia.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Malaysia
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Ipoh | $735–1,100 | 92/100 |
| Cameron Highlands | $783–1,180 | 90/100 |
| Sandakan | $783–1,180 | 91/100 |
| Taman Negara | $735–1,220 | 89/100 |
| Malacca | $857–1,270 | 85/100 |
| Kuching | $857–1,270 | 87/100 |
| Perhentian Islands | $930–1,350 | 85/100 |
| Tioman | $930–1,350 | 84/100 |
| Langkawi | $930–1,420 | 81/100 |
| Kota Kinabalu | $979–1,470 | 81/100 |
| Johor Bahru | $979–1,470 | 71/100 |
| Semporna | $979–1,590 | 63/100 |
| Penang | $1,030–1,590 | 74/100 |
| Genting Highlands | $1,100–1,710 | 71/100 |
| Kuala Lumpur | $1,220–1,960 | 57/100 |
| Redang | $1,220–1,960 | 62/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Kota Kinabalu
Similar safety, lower cost, in Southeast Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hue | Vietnam | $578–963 |
| Phong Nha | Vietnam | $539–848 |
| Sukhothai | Thailand | $656–1,040 |
| Ninh Binh | Vietnam | $539–925 |
| Mount Bromo | Indonesia | $503–783 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Kota Kinabalu?
About $539–735 on a lean budget, $979–1,470 for a comfortable month and $1,960–3,430 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Kota Kinabalu?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs RM1,500–2,800 ($367–686) a month in the center and RM900–1,800 ($220–441) outside it.
How much does food cost in Kota Kinabalu?
A local meal is RM8–15 ($2.0–3.7); a mid-range restaurant is RM30–65 ($7.3–15.9) per person.
Is Malaysia expensive?
Prices in Malaysia are about 32% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Kota Kinabalu
- Cost of livingacross Malaysia
- Safetyin Kota Kinabalu
- Weather & best timein Kota Kinabalu
- Air qualityin Kota Kinabalu
- Internet & coworkingin Kota Kinabalu
- Getting aroundin Kota Kinabalu
- Tap waterin Kota Kinabalu
- LGBTQ+ friendlyin Kota Kinabalu
- Healthcare & insurancein Kota Kinabalu
- Solo travelin Kota Kinabalu
Going to Kota Kinabalu solo?
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Malaysia Airports)
- Sabah Parks (Mount Kinabalu)
- Gleneagles Hospital Kota Kinabalu
- Grab Malaysia
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.