🇲🇾 Cost of living · Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu Cost of Living
Monthly cost of living breakdown for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Cost Level: Low
Housing
1BR Apartment — City Center RM1,450–2,600/mo (centre); RM1,100–1,900/mo (outer)
USD Reference Approx. USD 350–640/mo (1BR centre) · at 2026-08-04 FX rates
Food & Dining
Budget Restaurant / Local Eatery RM8–18 (casual); RM35–80 (restaurant for 2)
Monthly Groceries RM550–1,100/mo (groceries)
Transport
Monthly Transport Cost Monthly pass ~RM90
Buses + ride-hailing (Grab); driving common. Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI, the Sabah gateway). Walkable waterfront and centre; Mount Kinabalu/islands need a hired car/boat.
Monthly Budget Summary
Budget Lifestyle (single)
USD 800–1,200
Comfortable Lifestyle (single)
USD 1,200–2,000
Family Budget (2–3 people)
USD 2,500–4,000
Important Note
Data above is approximate and indicative. Actual costs vary by location, personal lifestyle, and exchange rate fluctuations. Verify with local sources after arrival.
Source: RichBay editorial estimate (indicative, not guaranteed)
Estimate baseline: 2026-06-21
How we estimate
- Coverage: the city and its immediate surrounding area.
- Housing: public statistics and current listing ranges (1-bedroom, city-centre baseline).
- Food & transport: supermarket / restaurant reference baskets and official operator fares.
- Currency conversion uses a reference rate; any USD figures are computed at the rate shown.
- Confidence: Medium — an editorial estimate, not a crowdsourced index.
- Cost level is relative to Richbay’s global city set, not an absolute index.
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