Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Bukit Mertajam versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 16% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 51% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$2.80 MYR 11.42

-33.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.07 MYR 81.9

$20.41 MYR 83.3

-1.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.79 MYR 15.48

$4.59 MYR 18.75

-17.43%

Cappuccino

$2.26 MYR 9.22

$2.58 MYR 10.52

-12.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.71 MYR 2.89

1.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.30 MYR 1.21

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MYR 12.39

$2.88 MYR 11.76

5.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 MYR 19.76

$3.74 MYR 15.27

29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MYR 6.55

$1.89 MYR 7.71

-15.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$1.08 MYR 4.42

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$1.05 MYR 4.30

-46.67%

Eggs

$1.90 MYR 7.74

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.77 MYR 93.0

$9.58 MYR 39.13

137.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 MYR 20.35

$3.84 MYR 15.69

29.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 MYR 43.38

$8.22 MYR 33.57

29.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 MYR 16.38

$2.98 MYR 12.18

34.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.15 MYR 4.69

50.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 14.04

$2.62 MYR 10.70

31.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.32

$1.77 MYR 7.23

42.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.96

$1.15 MYR 4.70

47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$1.24 MYR 5.07

-20.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.59

$1.71 MYR 6.97

-34.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.52 MYR 2.13

-36.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 17.23

$4.19 MYR 17.11

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 MYR 74.6

$20.46 MYR 83.5

-10.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$3.88 MYR 15.85

9.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.77

$3.41 MYR 13.91

-22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.23 MYR 0.94

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 48.97

$11.80 MYR 48.16

1.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$0.96 MYR 3.93

19.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$1.90 MYR 7.77

122.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.50 MYR 2.05

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

$45.9K MYR 187.4K

-4.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

$37.2K MYR 152.1K

-17.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$26.62 MYR 109

$41.82 MYR 171

-36.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.67 MYR 39.47

$9.22 MYR 37.66

4.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.14 MYR 115

$25.53 MYR 104

10.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.80 MYR 150

$29.85 MYR 122

23.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 24.43

$9.81 MYR 40.04

-39.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 MYR 17.54

$4.64 MYR 18.93

-7.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$117 MYR 477

$143 MYR 585

-18.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

-31.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.65 MYR 47.56

$66.3 MYR 271

-82.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 MYR 264

$31.34 MYR 128

106.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.16 MYR 94.6

$87.5 MYR 357

-73.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 MYR 321

$71.7 MYR 293

9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,583

$284 MYR 1,159

36.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 MYR 245

$201 MYR 819

-70.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,599

$569 MYR 2,323

11.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 1,954

$387 MYR 1,582

23.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 MYR 8,526

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 MYR 6,166

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,267

$530 MYR 2,165

4.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

4.27

-7.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Bukit Mertajam and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $243, with Kuching cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bukit Mertajam vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Kuching differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($656 vs $777 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Bukit Mertajam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Bukit Mertajam versus $284 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bukit Mertajam – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $20.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $777 in Kuching – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bukit Mertajam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bukit Mertajam and Kuching are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.