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: $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $870 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $933 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,398 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,926 in Kuching.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 33% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 57% lower, Kuching 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$3.40 MYR 13.90

2.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.02 MYR 86.0

$24.39 MYR 99.8

-13.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 20.04

$4.95 MYR 20.25

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$2.67 MYR 10.91

$3.21 MYR 13.14

-16.82%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.36

$0.75 MYR 3.09

9.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.36 MYR 1.47

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 MYR 9.96

$4.77 MYR 19.50

-49.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 18.14

$6.11 MYR 25.02

-27.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 MYR 8.83

$2.38 MYR 9.75

-9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.40

$1.27 MYR 5.19

-15.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.17 MYR 4.78

49.57%

Eggs

$2.58 MYR 10.55

$2.49 MYR 10.21

3.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 MYR 64.0

$11.41 MYR 46.71

36.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 MYR 19.89

$4.30 MYR 17.60

13.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 MYR 41.02

$9.75 MYR 39.91

2.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 MYR 9.55

$3.16 MYR 12.93

-26.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.10

$1.34 MYR 5.48

11.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 MYR 9.20

$2.47 MYR 10.12

-8.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.79 MYR 7.34

-32.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 MYR 3.54

$1.34 MYR 5.50

-35.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.26

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-30.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MYR 2.91

$1.64 MYR 6.70

-56.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.54 MYR 2.23

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$4.73 MYR 19.38

-5.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$22.31 MYR 91.3

-14.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 MYR 9.95

$4.11 MYR 16.84

-40.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 MYR 15.54

$5.13 MYR 21.01

-25.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$0.94 MYR 3.83

29.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.20 MYR 4.92

-58.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 MYR 20.40

$8.44 MYR 34.56

-40.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.34

$0.81 MYR 3.32

1.23%

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

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

$41.2K MYR 168.5K

2.78%

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

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

$36.5K MYR 149.4K

-3.62%

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

$50.8 MYR 208

$35.66 MYR 146

42.51%

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

$8.67 MYR 35.49

$10.22 MYR 41.83

-15.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 MYR 128

$25.15 MYR 103

24.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.99

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$5.05 MYR 20.67

-9.50%

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

$242 MYR 989

$136 MYR 555

78.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

$7,186 MYR 29.4K

-31.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 MYR 220

$63.9 MYR 262

-15.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.48 MYR 141

$37.13 MYR 152

-7.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 MYR 297

$89.5 MYR 366

-18.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 MYR 398

$64.5 MYR 264

50.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,472

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 991

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,629

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,944

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,611

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,249

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,270

$536 MYR 2,194

3.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.37

-3.89%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bukit Mertajam pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $24.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $274 per month, with Bukit Mertajam cheaper across the board.

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 49% in total monthly costs ($583 vs $870 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 3% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Kuching. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $583 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $870 in Kuching – a 49% 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 49% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.