Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching

😐 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 18.1% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 35% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 21.8% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 31% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 MYR 19.31

$2.8 MYR 11.82

63.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.83 MYR 122

$20.06 MYR 84.6

43.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 MYR 20.13

$4.69 MYR 19.76

1.71%

Cappuccino

$2.96 MYR 12.48

$2.57 MYR 10.83

15.18%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.58

$0.71 MYR 3

19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.32 MYR 1.37

56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.82

$2.77 MYR 11.68

52.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 MYR 25.11

$3.58 MYR 15.08

66.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 MYR 8.78

$1.95 MYR 8.24

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1 MYR 4.22

$1.13 MYR 4.77

-11.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.92

$1.01 MYR 4.27

62.38%

Eggs

$2.29 MYR 9.64

$2.13 MYR 9

7.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 62.6

$9.36 MYR 39.48

58.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 19.05

$3.85 MYR 16.23

17.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.51 MYR 40.1

$7.88 MYR 33.24

20.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 12.46

$3.02 MYR 12.72

-2.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.85

$1.1 MYR 4.64

47.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.7 MYR 11.37

$2.62 MYR 11.06

3.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.38

$1.84 MYR 7.75

-17.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 5.11

$1.15 MYR 4.85

5.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.4 MYR 5.92

$1.22 MYR 5.16

14.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 5.09

$1.68 MYR 7.07

-27.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.87

$0.52 MYR 2.2

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.68

$4.14 MYR 17.47

1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.11 MYR 76.4

$19.41 MYR 81.8

-6.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.33 MYR 14.06

$3.72 MYR 15.7

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 MYR 18.5

$3.38 MYR 14.26

29.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 3.06

$0.25 MYR 1.06

188.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.74 MYR 49.49

$11.57 MYR 48.8

1.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 5.11

$0.91 MYR 3.83

32.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.78

$1.14 MYR 4.83

-0.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 MYR 19.35

$1.94 MYR 8.17

136.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 2.01

$0.5 MYR 2.11

-4.00%

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

$40K MYR 168.8K

$44.9K MYR 189.4K

-10.84%

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

$33K MYR 139.2K

$36.1K MYR 152.3K

-8.61%

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

$64.8 MYR 273

$42.14 MYR 178

53.75%

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

$11.7 MYR 49.34

$8.94 MYR 37.71

30.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.5 MYR 108

$24.81 MYR 105

2.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.93 MYR 194

$29.84 MYR 126

53.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.76 MYR 32.73

$9.89 MYR 41.73

-21.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.23 MYR 22.03

$4.62 MYR 19.47

13.20%

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

$266 MYR 1,122

$144 MYR 606

85.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,267 MYR 39.1K

$6,013 MYR 25.4K

54.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 MYR 259

$66 MYR 278

-6.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.04 MYR 160

$31.77 MYR 134

19.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 MYR 364

$85.6 MYR 361

0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 MYR 336

$72.2 MYR 304

10.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 MYR 2,437

$278 MYR 1,171

108.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,566

$208 MYR 877

78.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 MYR 4,472

$571 MYR 2,409

85.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 MYR 2,649

$390 MYR 1,645

61.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,071 MYR 12.9K

$1,881 MYR 7,934

63.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 MYR 6,459

$1,330 MYR 5,607

15.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,342 MYR 5,659

$565 MYR 2,384

137.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.27

4.68%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

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