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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $778 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,219 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,661 in Kuching.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 11% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 48% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 MYR 9.87

$2.79 MYR 11.41

-13.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.12 MYR 90.5

$19.69 MYR 80.5

12.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.72

$4.85 MYR 19.84

-5.57%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.96

$2.55 MYR 10.43

14.51%

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

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.11

$0.32 MYR 1.32

-15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 MYR 14.71

$2.85 MYR 11.67

26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 MYR 20.45

$3.69 MYR 15.09

35.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 MYR 6.33

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-17.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.91

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.35

$1.01 MYR 4.13

29.70%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.02 MYR 61.4

$9.41 MYR 38.48

59.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 MYR 18.12

$3.73 MYR 15.24

18.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 MYR 38.80

$8.24 MYR 33.72

15.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.85

$3.04 MYR 12.42

-4.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.15

$1.11 MYR 4.56

35.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.31

$2.59 MYR 10.60

-2.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.82

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-19.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.82

$1.11 MYR 4.53

6.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.20

$1.23 MYR 5.01

3.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-38.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.15

$0.49 MYR 1.99

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.61

$4.29 MYR 17.56

0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.63 MYR 76.2

$21.05 MYR 86.1

-11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.59

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-23.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.34

$3.47 MYR 14.20

-12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.25 MYR 1.02

196.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.55 MYR 47.23

$11.60 MYR 47.45

-0.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.97 MYR 3.97

18.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-14.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 MYR 24.38

$1.92 MYR 7.86

210.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$0.46 MYR 1.90

6.52%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

-24.62%

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

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

-16.15%

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

$43.18 MYR 177

$42.30 MYR 173

2.08%

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

$8.96 MYR 36.63

$8.93 MYR 36.53

0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.00 MYR 119

$25.54 MYR 104

13.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.41 MYR 153

$29.54 MYR 121

26.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.45

$10.01 MYR 40.95

-42.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.82

$4.68 MYR 19.15

3.63%

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

$187 MYR 763

$144 MYR 587

29.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

12.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 251

$66.3 MYR 271

-7.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 MYR 111

$32.21 MYR 132

-15.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 MYR 301

$86.7 MYR 354

-15.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 MYR 208

$71.2 MYR 291

-28.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 MYR 820

$284 MYR 1,163

-29.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 MYR 474

$207 MYR 847

-44.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,651

$560 MYR 2,289

15.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,116

$384 MYR 1,570

-28.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,050 MYR 8,383

$2,033 MYR 8,314

0.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,138 MYR 4,653

$1,515 MYR 6,195

-24.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 MYR 2,003

$531 MYR 2,171

-7.74%

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 Kuala Terengganu: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Kuala Terengganu and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 8% 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: $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $242 per month, with Kuching cheaper across the board.

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

Kuala Terengganu vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuala Terengganu and Kuching differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($696 vs $778 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Kuching. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $200 in Kuala Terengganu versus $284 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $778 in Kuching – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 0% less than in Kuching. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kuala Terengganu 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, Kuala Terengganu and Kuching 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 Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.