Cost of living
Sandakan compared to Tawau
🏛️
Overview comparison
SandakanTawau
Consumer prices in Sandakan are roughly 14% higher than in Tawau.
Cost of living
| Item | Sandakan | Tawau |
|---|
| Total with rent one person | 531 | 457 |
|---|
| Total with rent family | 1,427 | 1,198 |
|---|
| Without rent one person | 400 | 271 |
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| Without rent one family | 948 | 1,029 |
|---|
| Rent & Utilities person | 140.21 | 214.01 |
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| Rent & Utilities family | 424.59 | 562.89 |
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| Food person | 287 | 253 |
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| Food family | 615 | 592 |
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| Transport person | 36.58 | 22.9 |
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| Transport family | 136.3 | 60.82 |
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| Life expectancy | 83.16 years | 66.38 years |
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Eating Out
| Item | Sandakan | Tawau |
|---|
| Lunch Menu | 2.64 | 3.18 |
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| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | 25.79 | 18.94 |
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| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | 4.2 | 4.52 |
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| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | 2.54 | 1.62 |
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| Cappuccino | 1.98 | 2.32 |
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| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | 1.09 | 1.01 |
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Rent & Utilities
| Item | Sandakan | Tawau |
|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city Center, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 186.32 | 254.8 |
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| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 82.58 | 141.52 |
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| 3 bedroom apartment in city Center, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 296.53 | 388.47 |
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| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 283.64 | 302.19 |
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| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 33.29 | 37.4 |
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| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 49.72 | 66.88 |
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| Internet plan, 25 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | 21.92 | 25.39 |
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Transportation
| Item | Sandakan | Tawau |
|---|
| Local transport ticket | 3.34 | 3.02 |
|---|
| Monthly ticket local transport | 1,541 | 1,413 |
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| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | 1,000 | 856 |
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| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | 0.81 | 0.28 |
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| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 21.57% | 18.43% |
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| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 9.25 | 7.5 |
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| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 0.42 | 0.48 |
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Groceries
| Item | Sandakan | Tawau |
|---|
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | 1.83 | 1.55 |
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| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | 1.12 | 1.3 |
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| Eggs, x12 | 1.71 | 1.74 |
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| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 12.93 | 12.07 |
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| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 4.32 | 2.78 |
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| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 6.9 | 4.42 |
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| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 1.25 | 1.15 |
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| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | 0.32 | 0.28 |
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Other
| Item | Sandakan | Tawau |
|---|
| Gym Membership, 1 month | 22.84 | 21.2 |
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| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | 3.09 | 3.26 |
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| Doctors visit | 25.85 | 28.31 |
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| Haircut, simple | 7.94 | 5.7 |
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| Brand Jeans | 74.8 | 58.92 |
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| Brand Sneakers | 70.46 | 75.35 |
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| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | 82.76 | 116.64 |
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| International Primary School, 1 year | 5,580 | 3,959 |
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