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: $786 in Haikou versus $699 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,196 in Haikou versus $1,090 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,605 in Haikou versus $1,482 in Miri.

Living in Haikou is roughly 12% more expensive than in Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Haikou 41% lower, Miri 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 ¥17.26

$3.27 MYR 13.38

-22.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.04 ¥163

$11.59 MYR 47.40

107.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ¥35.95

$3.86 MYR 15.80

37.56%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ¥19.94

$2.63 MYR 10.77

12.17%

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

$0.45 ¥3.06

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.06

$0.33 MYR 1.36

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ¥9.49

$2.88 MYR 11.79

-51.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ¥24.55

$3.78 MYR 15.47

-3.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥12.00

$1.37 MYR 5.61

29.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ¥9.61

$1.41 MYR 5.75

0.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ¥5.93

$0.79 MYR 3.22

11.39%

Eggs

$1.85 ¥12.55

$3.38 MYR 13.81

-45.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ¥87.3

$10.91 MYR 44.62

18.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 ¥37.00

$4.57 MYR 18.68

19.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 ¥102

$11.78 MYR 48.19

28.18%

Apples (1kg)

$0.86 ¥5.79

$3.13 MYR 12.81

-72.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 ¥6.05

$1.14 MYR 4.67

-21.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$2.37 MYR 9.71

-83.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.40

$1.38 MYR 5.64

-31.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.76

$0.58 MYR 2.39

20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ¥4.62

$0.91 MYR 3.74

-25.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 ¥1.81

$0.98 MYR 4.00

-72.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ¥3.53

$0.34 MYR 1.38

52.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.90 ¥19.65

$4.11 MYR 16.82

-29.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.69 ¥79.2

$20.01 MYR 81.8

-41.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.35

$2.99 MYR 12.23

-73.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.65

$2.30 MYR 9.42

-31.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ¥1.83

$1.42 MYR 5.79

-80.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.76 ¥113

$8.66 MYR 35.42

93.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 ¥18.47

$1.15 MYR 4.72

137.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.20

$0.76 MYR 3.12

-56.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 ¥45.58

$5.80 MYR 23.73

16.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.87

$0.46 MYR 1.88

152.17%

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

$20.3K ¥137.7K

$57.9K MYR 236.6K

-64.83%

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

$16.7K ¥112.9K

$28.1K MYR 114.9K

-40.64%

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

$34.12 ¥231

$30.68 MYR 125

11.21%

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

$13.71 ¥92.8

$9.45 MYR 38.66

45.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.57 ¥58.0

$32.82 MYR 134

-73.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.90 ¥223

$28.65 MYR 117

14.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ¥39.21

$6.05 MYR 24.75

-4.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 ¥36.64

$4.14 MYR 16.92

30.68%

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

$340 ¥2,304

$98.0 MYR 401

247.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.4K ¥192.2K

$5,147 MYR 21.1K

451.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.66 ¥282

$35.09 MYR 144

18.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.90 ¥284

$19.12 MYR 78.2

119.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.49 ¥288

$44.72 MYR 183

-4.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.08 ¥237

$31.45 MYR 129

11.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 ¥2,383

$317 MYR 1,298

10.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ¥1,906

$164 MYR 670

71.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$540 ¥3,655

$491 MYR 2,010

9.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 ¥3,173

$376 MYR 1,538

24.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,108 ¥21.0K

$1,206 MYR 4,932

157.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,120 ¥14.3K

$681 MYR 2,784

211.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$719 ¥4,868

$686 MYR 2,807

4.82%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Miri: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $352 in Haikou and $317 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haikou pays 5% 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: $24.00 in Haikou vs $12.00 in Miri. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $245, 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 12% in total monthly costs ($786 vs $699 including rent). Miri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% 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: $352 in Haikou versus $317 in Miri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $786 per month in Haikou versus $699 in Miri – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Miri runs roughly 94% 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 12% less than in Haikou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.