Cost of living comparison
Kota Kinabalu is 5.3% more expensive than Malaysia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.2% more in Kota Kinabalu
- Groceries
-
pay 7.6% more in Kota Kinabalu
- Transportation
-
pay 28.2% more in Kota Kinabalu
- Housing
-
pay 10.0% more in Kota Kinabalu
- Childcare
-
pay 32.0% less in Kota Kinabalu
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 5.5% less in Kota Kinabalu
- Clothing
-
pay 20.3% more in Kota Kinabalu
The cost of transportation, clothing, housing, restaurants, and groceries in Kota Kinabalu are more expensive than in Malaysia. Expenses including childcare and entertainment and sports are lower in Kota Kinabalu.
If you lived in Kota Kinabalu instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 8.2% more for restaurants
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.98
MYR13.20
|
$3.41
MYR15.11
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.23
MYR18.75
|
$4.32
MYR19.13
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
MYR3.01
|
$0.70
MYR3.08
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
MYR1.69
|
$0.44
MYR1.93
|
|
pay 7.6% more for groceries
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
MYR4.05
|
$1.07
MYR4.75
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.65
MYR33.92
|
$12.49
MYR55.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.39
MYR28.32
|
$6.10
MYR27.06
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.97
MYR8.74
|
$2.98
MYR13.23
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.83
MYR8.12
|
$1.95
MYR8.67
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
MYR5.20
|
$0.78
MYR3.46
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MYR2.53
|
$0.44
MYR1.94
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.21
MYR5.38
|
$1.41
MYR6.24
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.80
|
$0.60
MYR2.65
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
MYR1.91
|
$0.41
MYR1.83
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.26
|
$0.51
MYR2.26
|
|
pay 28.2% more for transportation
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.85
|
$1.76
MYR7.81
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$15.69
MYR69.55
|
$39.50
MYR175.14
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,330.57
MYR152,204.60
|
$28,392.96
MYR125,880.18
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
MYR30.76
|
$5.45
MYR24.17
|
|
pay 10.0% more for housing
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.31
MYR116.67
|
$36.72
MYR162.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$322.80
MYR1,431.14
|
$356.94
MYR1,582.49
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$212.35
MYR941.45
|
$159.00
MYR704.93
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$33.00
MYR146.30
|
$37.98
MYR168.39
|
|
pay 32.0% less for childcare
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$163.68
MYR725.67
|
$118.87
MYR527.02
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,626.64
MYR29,379.21
|
$4,202.16
MYR18,630.27
|
|
pay 5.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.66
MYR16.22
|
$2.64
MYR11.69
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.54
MYR11.26
|
$2.67
MYR11.83
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.07
MYR18.03
|
$4.71
MYR20.90
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.32
MYR161.03
|
$28.01
MYR124.20
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.00
MYR17.72
|
$4.09
MYR18.13
|
|
pay 20.3% more for clothing
|
Malaysia
|
Kota Kinabalu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.15
MYR235.64
|
$57.30
MYR254.03
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.13
MYR133.57
|
$21.95
MYR97.31
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.18
MYR288.96
|
$93.70
MYR415.40
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$57.93
MYR256.85
|
$90.86
MYR402.82
|
|
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