Town in Sabah, Malaysia
Cost of living in Semporna
How much a month costs in Semporna
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $979–1,590 (RM4,000–6,500).
Prices in Semporna
Typical 2026 ranges in MYR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | MYR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | RM35–80 | $8.6–19.6 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | RM120–300 | $29–73 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | RM8–15 | $2.0–3.7 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | RM25–50 | $6.1–12.2 |
| Cappuccino | RM6–12 | $1.5–2.9 |
| Getting around | ||
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | RM8–20 | $2.0–4.9 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | RM30–60 | $7.3–14.7 |
Value for money: 63/100
A value score of 63/100 means Semporna gives more quality of life per dollar than 62% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 54/100. It's the 12th 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 Semporna
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 Semporna?
About $539–783 on a lean budget, $979–1,590 for a comfortable month and $1,960–3,920 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in Semporna?
A local meal is RM8–15 ($2.0–3.7); a mid-range restaurant is RM25–50 ($6.1–12.2) per person.
Is Malaysia expensive?
Prices in Malaysia are about 32% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Semporna
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Sabah Parks (Sipadan permits)
- Sabah Tourism Board
- Tourism 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.