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: $804 in Haikou versus $810 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,136 in Haikou versus $1,253 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Haikou versus $1,697 in Miri.

Living in Haikou costs roughly 1% less than in Miri, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 ¥29.31

$3.57 MYR 14.43

22.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.16 ¥102

$12.48 MYR 50.5

21.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.03 ¥40.47

$4.62 MYR 18.67

30.52%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ¥16.09

$2.34 MYR 9.46

2.56%

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

$0.80 ¥5.40

$0.83 MYR 3.37

-3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ¥2.46

$0.30 MYR 1.22

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.78

$3.05 MYR 12.32

-52.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ¥18.07

$4.06 MYR 16.43

-33.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ¥13.86

$1.48 MYR 5.97

39.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ¥9.75

$1.87 MYR 7.57

-22.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 ¥4.60

$1.03 MYR 4.16

-33.01%

Eggs

$1.35 ¥9.07

$3.57 MYR 14.43

-62.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ¥26.21

$4.89 MYR 19.75

-20.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.82 ¥106

$15.05 MYR 60.8

5.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.31

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.24

$1.94 MYR 7.85

-52.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.33

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.08

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ¥5.55

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 ¥3.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.77

$0.38 MYR 1.54

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ¥21.04

$4.37 MYR 17.67

-28.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 ¥59.5

$19.78 MYR 80.0

-55.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$3.07 MYR 12.40

-81.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ¥8.21

$2.44 MYR 9.86

-50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ¥6.27

$0.51 MYR 2.07

82.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.8 ¥354

$14.13 MYR 57.1

273.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ¥14.89

$1.21 MYR 4.91

83.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ¥2.87

$0.64 MYR 2.59

-32.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 MYR 25.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥8.27

$0.61 MYR 2.47

101.64%

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

$50.0K MYR 202.0K

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

$33.7K MYR 136.2K

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

$35.52 ¥238

$51.2 MYR 207

-30.60%

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

$13.40 ¥89.9

$10.14 MYR 41.01

32.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.29 ¥89.2

$33.98 MYR 137

-60.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.71 ¥300

$29.65 MYR 120

50.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.17 ¥41.41

$6.09 MYR 24.60

1.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.59 ¥30.79

$4.53 MYR 18.32

1.32%

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

$865 ¥5,805

$102 MYR 413

747.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K ¥131.0K

$6,617 MYR 26.8K

195.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.31 ¥177

$45.90 MYR 186

-42.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.56 ¥232

$22.91 MYR 92.6

50.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.97 ¥295

$55.1 MYR 223

-20.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.48 ¥251

$43.13 MYR 174

-13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 ¥2,488

$343 MYR 1,385

8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 ¥1,963

$293 MYR 1,183

0.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ¥3,907

$599 MYR 2,423

-2.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ¥2,422

$597 MYR 2,412

-39.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,200 ¥21.5K

$1,222 MYR 4,940

161.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,158 ¥14.5K

$690 MYR 2,792

212.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$729 ¥4,891

$701 MYR 2,835

3.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.85

4.12

-6.55%

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

Last update for Haikou: August 31, 2026

Last update for Miri: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Haikou and $343 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haikou pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Haikou vs $12.00 in Miri. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $197, 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 1% in total monthly costs ($804 vs $810 including rent). Haikou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Haikou, 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 Haikou versus $343 in Miri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $804 per month in Haikou versus $810 in Miri – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Haikou runs roughly 274% less than in Miri. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Haikou 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 Haikou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Miri. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.