Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Kuching

🙂 Solo nomad: Kota Bharu is 20.6% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 18.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kota Bharu is 23.2% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 4.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82 MYR 7.66
$2.8 MYR 11.82
-35.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.31 MYR 89.9
$20.06 MYR 84.6
6.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.21 MYR 17.76
$4.69 MYR 19.76
-10.23%
Cappuccino
$2.32 MYR 9.79
$2.57 MYR 10.83
-9.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.9
$0.71 MYR 3
-36.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 MYR 1.15
$0.32 MYR 1.37
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.27 MYR 18.02
$2.77 MYR 11.68
54.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 MYR 17.58
$3.58 MYR 15.08
16.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 MYR 6.62
$1.95 MYR 8.24
-19.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 MYR 3.19
$1.13 MYR 4.77
-32.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 MYR 3.51
$1.01 MYR 4.27
-17.82%
Eggs
$1.55 MYR 6.55
$2.13 MYR 9
-27.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.17 MYR 64
$9.36 MYR 39.48
62.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 MYR 12.43
$3.85 MYR 16.23
-23.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.19 MYR 26.11
$7.88 MYR 33.24
-21.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.4 MYR 5.88
$3.02 MYR 12.72
-53.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MYR 6.04
$1.1 MYR 4.64
30.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.8
$2.62 MYR 11.06
-47.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.9 MYR 3.8
$1.84 MYR 7.75
-51.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 MYR 3.5
$1.15 MYR 4.85
-27.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.89
$1.22 MYR 5.16
-4.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 MYR 3.86
$1.68 MYR 7.07
-45.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 MYR 1.71
$0.52 MYR 2.2
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 MYR 12.97
$4.14 MYR 17.47
-25.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.59 MYR 61.5
$19.41 MYR 81.8
-24.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.4 MYR 5.9
$3.72 MYR 15.7
-62.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 MYR 14.45
$3.38 MYR 14.26
1.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MYR 3.12
$0.25 MYR 1.06
196.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.63 MYR 49.04
$11.57 MYR 48.8
0.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 MYR 2.91
$0.91 MYR 3.83
-24.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MYR 2.26
$1.14 MYR 4.83
-52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 MYR 15.35
$1.94 MYR 8.17
87.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.11
$0.5 MYR 2.11
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31K MYR 130.6K
$44.9K MYR 189.4K
-31.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MYR 114.8K
$36.1K MYR 152.3K
-24.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.1 MYR 161
$42.14 MYR 178
-9.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.15 MYR 34.38
$8.94 MYR 37.71
-8.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.59 MYR 112
$24.81 MYR 105
7.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.56 MYR 154
$29.84 MYR 126
22.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.77 MYR 24.33
$9.89 MYR 41.73
-41.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 MYR 17.98
$4.62 MYR 19.47
-7.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 MYR 489
$144 MYR 606
-19.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,301 MYR 26.6K
$6,013 MYR 25.4K
4.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 MYR 225
$66 MYR 278
-19.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.9 MYR 79.7
$31.77 MYR 134
-40.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.7 MYR 260
$85.6 MYR 361
-27.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.8 MYR 219
$72.2 MYR 304
-28.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 MYR 1,114
$278 MYR 1,171
-4.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 MYR 595
$208 MYR 877
-32.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 MYR 3,565
$571 MYR 2,409
48.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MYR 2,015
$390 MYR 1,645
22.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,767 MYR 7,450
$1,881 MYR 7,934
-6.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,061 MYR 4,474
$1,330 MYR 5,607
-20.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Kuching
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$325 MYR 1,371
$565 MYR 2,384
-42.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.27
-2.58%

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

Last update for Kota Bharu: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

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