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: $843 in George Town versus $804 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,306 in George Town versus $1,223 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,769 in George Town versus $1,642 in Kuching.

Living in George Town is roughly 5% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 37% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 MYR 11.93

$2.80 MYR 11.08

7.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.35 MYR 84.3

$20.00 MYR 79.0

6.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 MYR 16.86

$4.68 MYR 18.49

-8.76%

Cappuccino

$2.62 MYR 10.35

$2.45 MYR 9.69

6.94%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.03

$0.75 MYR 2.94

2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$0.32 MYR 1.27

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.20

$2.89 MYR 11.43

50.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MYR 18.49

$3.63 MYR 14.33

28.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.21

$1.90 MYR 7.51

-4.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.60

$1.02 MYR 4.03

63.73%

Eggs

$2.10 MYR 8.31

$2.26 MYR 8.91

-7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.50 MYR 69.1

$9.55 MYR 37.72

83.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 MYR 19.65

$3.73 MYR 14.72

33.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.47 MYR 41.35

$7.99 MYR 31.56

31.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.30

$3.08 MYR 12.18

-7.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.53

$1.15 MYR 4.54

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 MYR 8.90

$2.62 MYR 10.36

-14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.04

$1.81 MYR 7.15

-29.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MYR 3.44

$1.11 MYR 4.40

-21.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.57

$1.24 MYR 4.89

-6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 MYR 2.76

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-59.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.04

$0.53 MYR 2.10

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.51

$4.22 MYR 16.67

-0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 MYR 50.2

$21.58 MYR 85.3

-41.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.45

$3.84 MYR 15.18

-31.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.29

$3.47 MYR 13.71

-3.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.25 MYR 0.99

96.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 46.62

$11.84 MYR 46.78

-0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.59

$0.98 MYR 3.88

18.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 MYR 1.73

$1.11 MYR 4.38

-60.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 MYR 25.26

$1.92 MYR 7.60

232.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.47 MYR 1.84

4.26%

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

$34.1K MYR 134.6K

$46.1K MYR 182.0K

-26.06%

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

$25.0K MYR 98.7K

$36.3K MYR 143.3K

-31.13%

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

$38.18 MYR 151

$40.86 MYR 161

-6.56%

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

$9.68 MYR 38.23

$9.15 MYR 36.13

5.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.98 MYR 114

$25.01 MYR 98.8

15.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MYR 152

$29.43 MYR 116

30.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 MYR 14.94

$9.87 MYR 39.00

-61.70%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 MYR 16.30

$4.72 MYR 18.65

-12.50%

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

$146 MYR 578

$145 MYR 575

0.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,643 MYR 18.3K

$6,146 MYR 24.3K

-24.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 MYR 207

$65.8 MYR 260

-20.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 MYR 113

$31.81 MYR 126

-10.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 MYR 247

$86.1 MYR 340

-27.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 MYR 206

$71.3 MYR 282

-27.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,465

$284 MYR 1,123

30.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 MYR 999

$203 MYR 800

24.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,799

$566 MYR 2,237

25.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 1,969

$378 MYR 1,494

31.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,112 MYR 4,393

$554 MYR 2,186

100.94%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Kuching: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in George Town and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 101% 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 $251 vs $245 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

George Town pays 101% 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: $371 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 0% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $146 in George Town versus $145 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 5% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.