Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Alor Setar Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Alor Setar

😐 Solo nomad: Kuching is 34.7% more expensive than Alor Setar without rent, and 21.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kuching is 39.1% more expensive than Alor Setar without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 MYR 11.36
$2.29 MYR 9.00
26.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.78 MYR 77.8
$11.61 MYR 45.62
70.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 MYR 18.71
$3.99 MYR 15.70
19.30%
Cappuccino
$2.45 MYR 9.64
$1.66 MYR 6.52
47.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MYR 2.76
$0.51 MYR 2.01
37.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MYR 1.16
$0.27 MYR 1.05
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 MYR 11.38
$3.53 MYR 13.87
-17.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.14
$2.40 MYR 9.44
50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.36
$1.61 MYR 6.32
16.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 MYR 4.41
$0.84 MYR 3.29
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 MYR 4.03
$1.15 MYR 4.51
-11.30%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.60
$1.45 MYR 5.70
51.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 MYR 38.28
$11.74 MYR 46.13
-17.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 15.15
$3.10 MYR 12.18
24.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.53
$8.40 MYR 33.01
-4.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 MYR 11.74
$2.89 MYR 11.34
3.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.34
$1.04 MYR 4.07
5.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 9.95
$1.43 MYR 5.61
76.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 MYR 7.14
$2.18 MYR 8.57
-16.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 MYR 4.39
$0.93 MYR 3.67
20.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.89
$0.53 MYR 2.08
133.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 6.58
$0.73 MYR 2.88
130.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.92
$0.48 MYR 1.90
2.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MYR 16.48
$2.78 MYR 10.91
50.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.67 MYR 85.2
$8.72 MYR 34.28
148.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 MYR 15.27
$1.15 MYR 4.52
237.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.70
$2.07 MYR 8.12
68.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.73 MYR 2.88
-65.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.58
$11.59 MYR 45.55
2.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 MYR 3.65
$0.69 MYR 2.72
34.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.32
$0.54 MYR 2.12
103.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 MYR 7.65
$7.26 MYR 28.55
-73.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.94
$0.49 MYR 1.94
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7K MYR 179.8K
$33.1K MYR 130.1K
38.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K MYR 145.2K
$27.2K MYR 107.0K
35.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.74 MYR 164
$37.90 MYR 149
10.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.98 MYR 35.28
$7.09 MYR 27.85
26.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 MYR 98.4
$26.94 MYR 106
-7.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.52 MYR 116
$37.23 MYR 146
-20.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91 MYR 38.94
$9.25 MYR 36.35
7.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 MYR 18.08
$2.91 MYR 11.44
58.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 MYR 552
$83.6 MYR 329
68.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 MYR 23.6K
$5,299 MYR 20.8K
13.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 MYR 263
$46.87 MYR 184
42.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 MYR 124
$28.61 MYR 112
10.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 MYR 332
$61.0 MYR 240
38.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 MYR 280
$53.5 MYR 210
33.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MYR 1,112
$289 MYR 1,137
-2.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 MYR 815
$173 MYR 678
20.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 MYR 2,196
$457 MYR 1,795
22.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,534
$339 MYR 1,333
15.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 MYR 8,522
$1,729 MYR 6,795
25.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,569 MYR 6,164
$1,022 MYR 4,017
53.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Alor Setar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 MYR 2,148
$1,136 MYR 4,464
-51.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
4.16
2.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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