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

😐 Solo nomad: Johor Bahru is 8.3% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 18% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 12.2% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62 MYR 15.28
$2.8 MYR 11.82
29.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.97 MYR 80
$20.06 MYR 84.6
-5.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 MYR 20
$4.69 MYR 19.76
1.07%
Cappuccino
$2.99 MYR 12.62
$2.57 MYR 10.83
16.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.8 MYR 3.38
$0.71 MYR 3
12.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MYR 2.04
$0.32 MYR 1.37
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MYR 14.64
$2.77 MYR 11.68
25.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68 MYR 28.17
$3.58 MYR 15.08
86.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 MYR 7.86
$1.95 MYR 8.24
-4.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 MYR 3.91
$1.13 MYR 4.77
-17.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 5.22
$1.01 MYR 4.27
22.77%
Eggs
$1.81 MYR 7.64
$2.13 MYR 9
-15.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.66 MYR 44.96
$9.36 MYR 39.48
13.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.4 MYR 14.33
$3.85 MYR 16.23
-11.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.2 MYR 34.57
$7.88 MYR 33.24
4.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 MYR 11.24
$3.02 MYR 12.72
-11.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 6.11
$1.1 MYR 4.64
31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 MYR 10.83
$2.62 MYR 11.06
-1.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 5.14
$1.84 MYR 7.75
-33.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 MYR 5.01
$1.15 MYR 4.85
3.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 MYR 5.62
$1.22 MYR 5.16
9.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.9 MYR 3.81
$1.68 MYR 7.07
-46.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 MYR 2.34
$0.52 MYR 2.2
5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11 MYR 17.32
$4.14 MYR 17.47
-0.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 MYR 59.8
$19.41 MYR 81.8
-26.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 MYR 11.37
$3.72 MYR 15.7
-27.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 MYR 12.22
$3.38 MYR 14.26
-14.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.7 MYR 2.95
$0.25 MYR 1.06
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.92 MYR 50.3
$11.57 MYR 48.8
3.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 MYR 4.28
$0.91 MYR 3.83
12.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 MYR 4.34
$1.14 MYR 4.83
-9.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.07 MYR 38.25
$1.94 MYR 8.17
367.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.11
$0.5 MYR 2.11
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K MYR 149.3K
$44.9K MYR 189.4K
-21.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K MYR 115.6K
$36.1K MYR 152.3K
-24.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.76 MYR 172
$42.14 MYR 178
-3.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 MYR 37.77
$8.94 MYR 37.71
0.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.37 MYR 132
$24.81 MYR 105
26.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.46 MYR 150
$29.84 MYR 126
18.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.72 MYR 24.11
$9.89 MYR 41.73
-42.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MYR 20.63
$4.62 MYR 19.47
5.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$189 MYR 797
$144 MYR 606
31.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,908 MYR 29.1K
$6,013 MYR 25.4K
14.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.24 MYR 208
$66 MYR 278
-25.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.75 MYR 79.1
$31.77 MYR 134
-40.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.9 MYR 231
$85.6 MYR 361
-35.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.31 MYR 170
$72.2 MYR 304
-44.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 MYR 1,991
$278 MYR 1,171
69.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 MYR 1,687
$208 MYR 877
92.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 MYR 3,563
$571 MYR 2,409
47.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$599 MYR 2,528
$390 MYR 1,645
53.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,824 MYR 7,692
$1,881 MYR 7,934
-3.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,292 MYR 5,447
$1,330 MYR 5,607
-2.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johor Bahru
Kuching
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,008 MYR 4,252
$565 MYR 2,384
78.34%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

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