Cost of Living in Sabah 2026 — KK vs Tawau vs Rural

Cost of living: the squeeze on Sabahan households

Between DOSM’s 2022 and 2024 surveys, Sabah’s mean household spending rose 6.1% (RM3,342 to RM3,547) and median household income rose 6.8% (RM4,577 to RM4,890). Electricity then rose from February 2026 with SESB’s first tariff revision since 2014. Sabah has the third-lowest median household income of any state, after Kelantan (RM4,083) and Perak (RM4,687), and the highest poverty rate (OpenDOSM hies_state, checked 7 October 2026).

The gap between income and expenditure tells the story. Sabah’s mean household expenditure is RM3,547/month against a mean income of RM6,498 (DOSM 2024), The difference covers savings, debt repayments, taxes and other outgoings that DOSM does not count as consumption spending. Averages hide a wide spread: Sabah’s Gini coefficient of 0.405 in 2024 was the highest of any state (DOSM).

What a household budget looks like

DOSM’s state-level figures in our data do not break Sabah’s spending down by category, so we no longer show a percentage split. As a rough guide from SabahGuide, not official statistics, housing, food and transport are the biggest costs for most urban households. Check current rents on property portals before planning a move.

Regional cost comparison: KK vs Tawau vs Rural

DOSM’s district figures show how spending differs across the state (chart above): Kota Kinabalu RM4,726 a month, Sandakan RM3,677, Keningau RM3,542 and Tawau RM3,182, against a state mean of RM3,547 (2024). The notes below are SabahGuide’s rough guide, not official data.

Kota Kinabalu: the most expensive

KK is Sabah’s most expensive city. Rent for a decent 1-bedroom apartment is RM1,000–RM1,500/month in central areas, RM700–RM1,000 in suburbs. Food is slightly more expensive than other cities due to demand and logistics. Transport costs are high if you own a car (fuel, parking, maintenance). A single person needs RM2,000–RM2,500/month to live comfortably; a family of four needs RM4,500–RM5,500.

Tawau: moderate costs

Tawau households spend about a third less than KK households on average (DOSM 2024). 1-bedroom rent is RM500–RM800. Food is slightly cheaper. A single person can live on RM1,400–RM1,800/month; a family of four on RM3,500–RM4,500.

Sandakan & Semporna: cheaper still

Rent is RM450–RM700 for 1-bedroom. Food is cheap due to local production. A family of four can live on RM3,000–RM4,000/month. However, job opportunities are more limited than in KK, and some services (healthcare, education) are weaker.

Rural interior: lowest costs, fewest opportunities

The rural interior (Tenom, Pensiangan, Nabawan and similar) is generally cheaper than KK, though DOSM’s Keningau average, RM3,542, is close to the state mean. Rent is minimal (often free in family homes); food is produced locally; transport costs are low. However, wage opportunities are severely limited, and cash-income livelihoods are scarce. A rural family might have shelter and food security but lack money for healthcare, education, and investment.

Income distribution and affordability

Sabah’s median household income was RM4,890 a month in 2024 and the mean RM6,498 (DOSM). Its Gini coefficient of 0.405 was the highest of any state. The gap is geographic as much as anything: poverty ranges from 5.7% in Penampang to 50% in Pitas.

Poverty statistics and welfare support

The average national poverty line income (PLI) for 2024 was RM2,705 a month (DOSM). Sabah recorded the highest incidence of absolute poverty in Malaysia at 17.7%, compared to 5.1% nationally (DOSM, Poverty in Malaysia 2024, released 8 October 2025). In several rural districts it is far higher: 33% in Beluran, 35.3% in Kudat, 40% in Kota Marudu, 41.5% in Tongod and 50% in Pitas (DOSM 2024). The federal government provides cash assistance (renamed several times since BR1M; today Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, STR) and other subsidies, but these provide only partial relief.

Frequently asked questions