Cost of Living Comparison Between Haikou and Miri Cost of Living Comparison Between Haikou and Miri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $785 in Haikou versus $682 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Haikou versus $1,091 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,603 in Haikou versus $1,499 in Miri.

Living in Haikou is roughly 15% more expensive than Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Haikou 41% lower, Miri 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 ¥16.51

$3.22 MYR 12.78

-24.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.58 ¥166

$11.73 MYR 46.49

109.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.24

$4.02 MYR 15.94

25.87%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ¥20.71

$2.68 MYR 10.61

14.18%

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

$0.46 ¥3.08

$0.70 MYR 2.76

-34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.26

$0.36 MYR 1.45

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ¥9.22

$2.89 MYR 11.45

-52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ¥25.18

$3.70 MYR 14.66

0.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥12.07

$1.35 MYR 5.37

32.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 ¥9.25

$1.45 MYR 5.73

-5.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 ¥5.54

$0.80 MYR 3.18

2.50%

Eggs

$1.86 ¥12.60

$3.27 MYR 12.97

-43.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 ¥85.6

$11.01 MYR 43.64

14.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.70 ¥38.57

$4.80 MYR 19.05

18.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 ¥104

$12.04 MYR 47.72

28.32%

Apples (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.48

$3.16 MYR 12.53

-74.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$1.19 MYR 4.73

-21.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.43 ¥2.91

$2.26 MYR 8.97

-80.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.29

$1.38 MYR 5.49

-32.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ¥5.25

$0.59 MYR 2.35

32.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.83

$0.90 MYR 3.57

-21.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 ¥1.96

$0.91 MYR 3.61

-68.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ¥3.53

$0.33 MYR 1.33

57.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 ¥20.27

$4.23 MYR 16.77

-29.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.39 ¥77.0

$20.47 MYR 81.2

-44.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥5.42

$3.03 MYR 12.02

-73.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ¥11.17

$2.27 MYR 8.98

-27.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.96

$1.36 MYR 5.41

-78.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.58 ¥112

$8.72 MYR 34.59

90.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 ¥19.40

$1.20 MYR 4.77

139.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ¥2.41

$0.75 MYR 2.97

-52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.53 ¥44.17

$5.76 MYR 22.85

13.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥7.61

$0.46 MYR 1.83

145.65%

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

$20.4K ¥138.2K

$57.9K MYR 229.7K

-64.73%

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

$16.2K ¥109.4K

$28.2K MYR 111.8K

-42.63%

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

$33.79 ¥228

$30.45 MYR 121

10.97%

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

$13.85 ¥93.6

$9.34 MYR 37.04

48.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.11 ¥54.9

$32.20 MYR 128

-74.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.15 ¥217

$28.52 MYR 113

12.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 ¥39.25

$5.75 MYR 22.79

0.87%

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ¥36.92

$4.17 MYR 16.53

30.94%

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

$333 ¥2,251

$97.6 MYR 387

241.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.9K ¥188.6K

$5,240 MYR 20.8K

432.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.58 ¥281

$35.09 MYR 139

18.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.71 ¥282

$19.06 MYR 75.6

118.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.57 ¥288

$44.89 MYR 178

-5.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.35 ¥232

$31.98 MYR 127

7.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 ¥2,320

$311 MYR 1,231

10.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 ¥1,855

$165 MYR 656

65.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$533 ¥3,602

$494 MYR 1,961

7.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ¥3,191

$379 MYR 1,501

24.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,212 ¥21.7K

$1,286 MYR 5,100

149.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,147 ¥14.5K

$697 MYR 2,765

207.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$717 ¥4,851

$767 MYR 3,041

-6.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

3.63

33.61%

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

Last update for Haikou: May 30, 2026

Last update for Miri: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $343 in Haikou and $311 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Haikou vs $12.00 in Miri. Groceries flip the comparison at $212 vs $248, with Haikou 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

Haikou vs Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Haikou and Miri differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($785 vs $682 including rent). Miri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Miri earns 7% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $343 in Haikou versus $311 in Miri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $785 per month in Haikou versus $682 in Miri – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Miri runs roughly 90% less than in Haikou. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Miri 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, Haikou and Miri 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 Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Haikou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.