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