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: $661 in Bukit Mertajam versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,633 in Kuching.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 18% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 51% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$2.76 MYR 11.19

-30.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.96 MYR 80.9

$20.32 MYR 82.4

-1.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 MYR 15.02

$4.81 MYR 19.51

-23.08%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 9.03

$2.53 MYR 10.26

-11.86%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.76 MYR 3.07

-2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.29 MYR 1.19

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MYR 12.74

$2.78 MYR 11.27

12.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 MYR 19.04

$3.61 MYR 14.63

30.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.77

$1.91 MYR 7.76

-12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.40

$1.09 MYR 4.44

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$1.06 MYR 4.28

-47.17%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$2.15 MYR 8.73

-12.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.75 MYR 92.3

$9.37 MYR 38.01

142.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 MYR 20.42

$3.79 MYR 15.36

32.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 MYR 42.28

$8.01 MYR 32.49

30.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 MYR 15.75

$2.99 MYR 12.14

29.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.13

$1.14 MYR 4.63

54.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 MYR 14.10

$2.59 MYR 10.48

34.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.77

$1.80 MYR 7.31

47.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.12

$1.11 MYR 4.50

58.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MYR 4.04

$1.24 MYR 5.01

-19.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-34.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.53 MYR 2.13

-32.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.19 MYR 17.00

3.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.90 MYR 76.7

$21.36 MYR 86.6

-11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 MYR 17.34

$3.87 MYR 15.69

10.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MYR 10.59

$3.41 MYR 13.82

-23.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.78

$0.23 MYR 0.93

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 47.83

$11.92 MYR 48.32

-1.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.87

$0.93 MYR 3.76

29.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.59

$1.11 MYR 4.49

1.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 MYR 17.25

$1.84 MYR 7.45

130.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-8.00%

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

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

$44.6K MYR 180.8K

-0.83%

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

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

$37.3K MYR 151.3K

-16.29%

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

$26.68 MYR 108

$41.24 MYR 167

-35.31%

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

$9.95 MYR 40.36

$8.92 MYR 36.16

11.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.90 MYR 117

$25.42 MYR 103

13.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 MYR 151

$29.51 MYR 120

26.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 23.99

$9.77 MYR 39.62

-39.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 MYR 16.85

$4.63 MYR 18.77

-10.15%

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

$119 MYR 483

$141 MYR 572

-15.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

-29.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.98 MYR 48.58

$65.8 MYR 267

-81.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.2 MYR 256

$31.99 MYR 130

97.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.23 MYR 94.2

$85.9 MYR 348

-72.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 MYR 317

$71.5 MYR 290

9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,584

$285 MYR 1,156

37.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.8 MYR 238

$205 MYR 830

-71.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,662

$556 MYR 2,255

18.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MYR 1,936

$386 MYR 1,566

23.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,692

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$990 MYR 4,016

$552 MYR 2,239

79.37%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Bukit Mertajam and $285 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 79% 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 $300 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 21% in total monthly costs ($661 vs $802 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bukit Mertajam pays 79% more on average, 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: $391 in Bukit Mertajam versus $285 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 $661 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $802 in Kuching – a 21% 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 21% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.