Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $865 in George Town versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,328 in George Town versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,791 in George Town versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in George Town is roughly 11% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 35% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 MYR 12.22

$2.80 MYR 11.42

6.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.46 MYR 87.6

$20.41 MYR 83.3

5.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 MYR 16.91

$4.59 MYR 18.75

-9.80%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.52

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

$0.78 MYR 3.17

$0.71 MYR 2.89

9.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.30 MYR 1.21

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.22

$2.88 MYR 11.76

46.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MYR 18.88

$3.74 MYR 15.27

23.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.41

$1.89 MYR 7.71

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.37

$1.08 MYR 4.42

-0.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.65

$1.05 MYR 4.30

55.24%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.41

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-5.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.9

$9.58 MYR 39.13

81.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 MYR 20.86

$3.84 MYR 15.69

33.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.81 MYR 44.15

$8.22 MYR 33.57

31.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MYR 11.92

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-2.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.71

$1.15 MYR 4.69

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MYR 8.76

$2.62 MYR 10.70

-17.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.00

$1.77 MYR 7.23

-31.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 MYR 3.45

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-26.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.78

$1.24 MYR 5.07

-5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 MYR 3.00

$1.71 MYR 6.97

-56.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.52 MYR 2.13

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 17.07

$4.19 MYR 17.11

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.20 MYR 78.4

$20.46 MYR 83.5

-6.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 MYR 11.11

$3.88 MYR 15.85

-29.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 MYR 14.44

$3.41 MYR 13.91

3.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.23 MYR 0.94

95.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.63 MYR 47.49

$11.80 MYR 48.16

-1.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$0.96 MYR 3.93

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-59.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 MYR 26.96

$1.90 MYR 7.77

247.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-8.00%

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

$34.0K MYR 138.7K

$45.9K MYR 187.4K

-26.02%

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

$24.9K MYR 101.6K

$37.2K MYR 152.1K

-33.16%

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

$38.72 MYR 158

$41.82 MYR 171

-7.41%

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

$9.78 MYR 39.94

$9.22 MYR 37.66

6.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.08 MYR 119

$25.53 MYR 104

13.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.41 MYR 157

$29.85 MYR 122

28.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.81 MYR 15.55

$9.81 MYR 40.04

-61.16%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 MYR 15.99

$4.64 MYR 18.93

-15.52%

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

$148 MYR 606

$143 MYR 585

3.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,522 MYR 18.5K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

-26.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 MYR 215

$66.3 MYR 271

-20.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.34 MYR 116

$31.34 MYR 128

-9.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 MYR 255

$87.5 MYR 357

-28.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.3 MYR 214

$71.7 MYR 293

-27.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 MYR 1,488

$284 MYR 1,159

28.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 MYR 1,049

$201 MYR 819

28.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 MYR 2,901

$569 MYR 2,323

24.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 MYR 2,019

$387 MYR 1,582

27.67%

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)

$1,072 MYR 4,378

$530 MYR 2,165

102.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.27

-2.58%

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

Last update for George Town: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $364 in George Town and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 102% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in George Town vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $243 per month, with Kuching 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

George Town vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 102% higher in George Town, 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: $364 in George Town versus $284 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kuching runs roughly 1% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $148 in George Town versus $143 in Kuching. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kuching gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in George Town, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, George Town 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 Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.