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: $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $774 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,217 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,660 in Kuching.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 9% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 47% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.08

$2.84 MYR 11.28

-19.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 MYR 87.2

$20.23 MYR 80.2

8.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.30

$4.63 MYR 18.35

-5.83%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 11.79

$2.44 MYR 9.68

21.72%

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

$0.44 MYR 1.75

$0.69 MYR 2.75

-36.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.07

$0.32 MYR 1.28

-15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.16

$2.76 MYR 10.95

29.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.27

$3.56 MYR 14.13

36.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 MYR 6.12

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-19.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$1.12 MYR 4.45

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.95

$1.03 MYR 4.08

21.36%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$2.17 MYR 8.60

-5.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 59.8

$9.74 MYR 38.62

54.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 MYR 17.46

$3.90 MYR 15.45

12.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 38.38

$8.04 MYR 31.86

20.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 11.83

$3.11 MYR 12.35

-4.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.76

$1.11 MYR 4.39

30.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.20

$2.58 MYR 10.22

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.47

$1.78 MYR 7.04

-22.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.14 MYR 4.52

8.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$1.17 MYR 4.66

13.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.16

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-39.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.53 MYR 2.11

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.29

$4.14 MYR 16.42

5.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.78 MYR 74.5

$21.39 MYR 84.8

-12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.19

$3.87 MYR 15.34

-27.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.93

$3.50 MYR 13.89

-14.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.95

$0.25 MYR 0.99

196.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.50

$11.64 MYR 46.14

2.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$0.91 MYR 3.60

31.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$1.14 MYR 4.53

-13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 MYR 23.99

$1.83 MYR 7.27

230.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$0.49 MYR 1.94

2.04%

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

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

$45.0K MYR 178.4K

-21.35%

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

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

$36.0K MYR 142.9K

-11.14%

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

$43.46 MYR 172

$41.77 MYR 166

4.05%

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

$9.35 MYR 37.07

$8.95 MYR 35.50

4.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MYR 118

$25.07 MYR 99.4

18.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 MYR 144

$29.40 MYR 117

23.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.96

$9.60 MYR 38.08

-39.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 19.74

$4.73 MYR 18.77

5.29%

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

$184 MYR 730

$143 MYR 569

28.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

$6,074 MYR 24.1K

15.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 242

$65.9 MYR 261

-7.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.86 MYR 106

$31.95 MYR 127

-15.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MYR 294

$85.9 MYR 340

-13.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 MYR 202

$73.0 MYR 289

-30.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 MYR 787

$276 MYR 1,093

-27.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 MYR 476

$201 MYR 798

-40.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,571

$566 MYR 2,243

14.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,084

$387 MYR 1,536

-29.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 MYR 7,823

$2,159 MYR 8,560

-8.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 MYR 3,879

$1,568 MYR 6,219

-37.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 MYR 2,001

$555 MYR 2,201

-9.09%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuching: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Kuala Terengganu and $276 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 10% 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 $250 vs $246 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 10% in total monthly costs ($706 vs $774 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Kuching earns 10% less. 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: $199 in Kuala Terengganu versus $276 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $774 in Kuching – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 3% 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 10% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.