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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $774 per month in Kuching vs $680 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,217 per month in Kuching vs $1,049 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,660 per month in Kuching vs $1,417 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Kuching costs about 14% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuching and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Kuching 42% lower, Alor Setar 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 MYR 11.35

$2.33 MYR 9.30

21.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 80.7

$11.63 MYR 46.40

73.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.46

$4.16 MYR 16.61

11.30%

Cappuccino

$2.44 MYR 9.74

$1.62 MYR 6.48

50.62%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.77

$0.51 MYR 2.04

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.28

$0.27 MYR 1.07

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 MYR 11.02

$3.53 MYR 14.08

-21.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 MYR 14.22

$2.32 MYR 9.28

53.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.60

$1.63 MYR 6.52

17.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.48

$0.89 MYR 3.54

25.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.11

$1.20 MYR 4.80

-14.17%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.66

$1.50 MYR 6.00

44.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.87

$11.76 MYR 46.91

-17.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 MYR 15.55

$3.12 MYR 12.44

25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 MYR 32.07

$8.27 MYR 33.00

-2.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 MYR 12.43

$2.89 MYR 11.55

7.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.42

$1.04 MYR 4.14

6.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.29

$1.38 MYR 5.51

86.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.08

$2.09 MYR 8.34

-14.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.55

$0.88 MYR 3.52

29.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.69

$0.54 MYR 2.14

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.92

$0.68 MYR 2.72

155.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.46 MYR 1.82

15.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.52

$2.81 MYR 11.20

47.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.39 MYR 85.3

$19.36 MYR 77.2

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.44

$1.16 MYR 4.64

233.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 MYR 13.98

$2.10 MYR 8.38

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.00

$0.69 MYR 2.77

-63.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 46.43

$11.76 MYR 46.93

-1.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.62

$0.74 MYR 2.96

22.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.56

$0.55 MYR 2.18

107.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 MYR 7.32

$7.23 MYR 28.86

-74.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.96

$0.46 MYR 1.85

6.52%

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

$45.0K MYR 179.5K

$33.8K MYR 134.8K

33.15%

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

$36.0K MYR 143.8K

$27.9K MYR 111.5K

28.99%

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

$41.77 MYR 167

$39.16 MYR 156

6.66%

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

$8.95 MYR 35.73

$7.01 MYR 27.98

27.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.07 MYR 100

$27.13 MYR 108

-7.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.40 MYR 117

$36.34 MYR 145

-19.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.60 MYR 38.32

$9.33 MYR 37.23

2.89%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 MYR 18.88

$2.76 MYR 11.02

71.38%

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

$143 MYR 572

$83.4 MYR 333

71.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,074 MYR 24.2K

$5,240 MYR 20.9K

15.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 MYR 263

$46.55 MYR 186

41.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.95 MYR 127

$28.70 MYR 115

11.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 343

$62.1 MYR 248

38.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 291

$52.5 MYR 210

38.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 MYR 1,100

$299 MYR 1,193

-7.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 803

$170 MYR 679

18.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,257

$442 MYR 1,763

28.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,545

$335 MYR 1,337

15.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,159 MYR 8,614

$1,912 MYR 7,629

12.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,568 MYR 6,258

$900 MYR 3,592

74.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,214

$1,649 MYR 6,578

-66.33%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Kuching versus $299 in Alor Setar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 197% higher in Alor Setar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kuching versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $209 – making Alor Setar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Kuching vs Alor Setar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching costs about 14% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,161 per month in Kuching and $1,021 in Alor Setar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alor Setar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $143 per month in Kuching and $83.4 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Kuching, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $774 in Kuching and $680 in Alor Setar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $680 versus $774 in Kuching. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Alor Setar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuching makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.