Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Kuching

🙂 Solo nomad: Johor Bahru is 4.4% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 21.7% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 5.4% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.50 MYR 13.83

$2.89 MYR 11.42

21.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.14 MYR 75.6

$19.78 MYR 78.2

-3.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 MYR 18.67

$4.76 MYR 18.81

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$3.02 MYR 11.93

$2.45 MYR 9.69

23.27%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.08

$0.70 MYR 2.77

11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.30 MYR 1.17

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 MYR 13.83

$2.90 MYR 11.44

20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.75 MYR 26.68

$3.60 MYR 14.21

87.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.37

$1.87 MYR 7.40

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.77

$1.12 MYR 4.43

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.14

$1.02 MYR 4.05

27.45%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$2.19 MYR 8.65

-15.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 MYR 41.42

$9.74 MYR 38.47

7.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MYR 13.45

$3.85 MYR 15.23

-11.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.68

$8.02 MYR 31.69

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.00

$2.99 MYR 11.80

-7.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.02

$1.10 MYR 4.36

38.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 9.77

$2.53 MYR 10.00

-2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.82 MYR 7.18

-31.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.68

$1.12 MYR 4.42

5.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.53

$1.24 MYR 4.92

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.78

$1.68 MYR 6.62

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.03

$0.49 MYR 1.93

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.51

$4.19 MYR 16.56

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.68 MYR 58.0

$21.67 MYR 85.6

-32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 MYR 10.50

$3.88 MYR 15.34

-31.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 11.96

$3.49 MYR 13.77

-13.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.85

$0.25 MYR 0.99

188.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 MYR 46.22

$11.85 MYR 46.82

-1.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$0.93 MYR 3.67

5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.07

$1.10 MYR 4.34

-6.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.31 MYR 36.77

$1.95 MYR 7.69

377.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$0.49 MYR 1.95

-6.12%

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

$35.5K MYR 140.3K

$45.7K MYR 180.7K

-22.34%

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

$28.3K MYR 111.7K

$37.0K MYR 146.0K

-23.47%

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

$41.48 MYR 164

$41.74 MYR 165

-0.62%

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

$9.13 MYR 36.07

$8.98 MYR 35.46

1.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.95 MYR 122

$25.04 MYR 98.9

23.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.11 MYR 139

$29.52 MYR 117

18.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 MYR 23.90

$9.91 MYR 39.14

-38.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 MYR 20.08

$4.60 MYR 18.17

10.43%

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

$187 MYR 740

$140 MYR 555

33.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,960 MYR 27.5K

$5,993 MYR 23.7K

16.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.99 MYR 197

$66.8 MYR 264

-25.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 MYR 75.7

$31.50 MYR 124

-39.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 MYR 215

$84.4 MYR 333

-35.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 MYR 156

$71.2 MYR 281

-44.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,849

$283 MYR 1,117

65.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 MYR 1,597

$207 MYR 819

94.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 MYR 3,267

$559 MYR 2,207

48.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 MYR 2,395

$390 MYR 1,542

55.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,142 MYR 8,459

$2,168 MYR 8,565

-1.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 MYR 4,709

$1,569 MYR 6,196

-23.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,153 MYR 4,553

$546 MYR 2,159

110.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.27

-4.68%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: March 2, 2026

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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