Living in Likas, Kota Kinabalu

Monthly rent in MYR (RM). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.

Within AffordWhere's Kota Kinabalu dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about RM1,900/month — roughly 19% above the city median, and among the pricier of the 5 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run RM2,300 - RM3,800/month and three-bedrooms RM3,500 - RM5,500/month on second-hand contracts. At 10 minutes to the center by car, it sits about as central as most Kota Kinabalu areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the waterfront, nature, jogging tags, it may suit renters weighing rent against commute.

Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Inanam. For a shorter commute, see Luyang.

Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.

OpenStreetMap maps Jesselton Point Waterfront as the nearest rail stop, Kota Kinabalu Wetland as nearby green space and City Gourmet as the nearest supermarket around the Likas reference point. It also shows several cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.

Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.

How much is rent in Likas, Kota Kinabalu?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Likas costs RM1,500 - RM2,300/month (second-hand contract) or RM1,200 - RM1,900/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from RM2,300 - RM3,800/month, and a 3-bedroom from RM3,500 - RM5,500/month.

Is Likas safe for expats?

Likas has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.

How long is the commute from Likas to Kota Kinabalu center?

The commute from Likas to Kota Kinabalu city center takes approximately 10 minutes by car.

What is Likas like to live in?

Waterfront bay with bird sanctuary and jogging path. Mid-range condos facing the South China Sea. In our data it is tagged as waterfront, nature, jogging.