City in Sabah, Malaysia
Cost of living in Sandakan
How much a month costs in Sandakan
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $783–1,180 (RM3,200–4,800).
Prices in Sandakan
Typical 2026 ranges in MYR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | MYR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | RM800–1,600 | $196–392 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | RM500–1,100 | $122–269 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | RM25–60 | $6.1–14.7 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | RM110–250 | $27–61 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | RM7–14 | $1.7–3.4 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | RM25–55 | $6.1–13.5 |
| Cappuccino | RM8–14 | $2.0–3.4 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | RM14–28 | $3.4–6.9 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | RM1–3 | $0.24–0.73 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | RM10–20 | $2.4–4.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | RM80–170 | $20–42 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | RM30–60 | $7.3–14.7 |
Value for money: 91/100
A value score of 91/100 means Sandakan gives more quality of life per dollar than 90% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 67/100. It's the 4th 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 Sandakan
Similar safety, lower cost, in Southeast Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hue | Vietnam | $578–963 |
| Phong Nha | Vietnam | $539–848 |
| Ninh Binh | Vietnam | $539–925 |
| Mount Bromo | Indonesia | $503–783 |
| Sapa | Vietnam | $578–963 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Sandakan?
About $416–588 on a lean budget, $783–1,180 for a comfortable month and $1,590–2,690 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Sandakan?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs RM800–1,600 ($196–392) a month in the center and RM500–1,100 ($122–269) outside it.
How much does food cost in Sandakan?
A local meal is RM7–14 ($1.7–3.4); a mid-range restaurant is RM25–55 ($6.1–13.5) per person.
Is Malaysia expensive?
Prices in Malaysia are about 32% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Sandakan
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Sabah Tourism Board
- Sandakan Airport (Malaysia Airports)
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.