Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Batu Kawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Batu Kawan

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 8% cheaper than Batu Kawan without rent, and 16.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 17.7% cheaper than Batu Kawan without rent, and 15.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 MYR 11.42
$4.77 MYR 18.84
-39.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.78 MYR 78.2
$28.32 MYR 112
-30.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 MYR 18.81
$4.79 MYR 18.93
-0.63%
Cappuccino
$2.45 MYR 9.69
$3.07 MYR 12.11
-20.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MYR 2.77
$0.85 MYR 3.34
-17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MYR 1.17
$0.54 MYR 2.11
-44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 MYR 11.44
$4.35 MYR 17.17
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.21
$5.75 MYR 22.70
-37.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.40
$1.42 MYR 5.62
31.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 MYR 4.43
$1.04 MYR 4.12
7.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 MYR 4.05
$0.74 MYR 2.92
37.84%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.65
$1.96 MYR 7.74
11.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 MYR 38.47
$14.64 MYR 57.8
-33.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 15.23
$4.54 MYR 17.94
-15.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.69
$9.67 MYR 38.18
-17.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 MYR 11.80
$2.86 MYR 11.28
4.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.36
$1.55 MYR 6.14
-29.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 10.00
$2.69 MYR 10.62
-5.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 MYR 7.18
$1.52 MYR 6.02
19.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 MYR 4.42
$1.22 MYR 4.81
-8.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.92
$1.36 MYR 5.36
-8.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 6.62
$1.16 MYR 4.59
44.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.93
$0.63 MYR 2.50
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MYR 16.56
$4.24 MYR 16.73
-1.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.67 MYR 85.6
$18.75 MYR 74.1
15.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 MYR 15.34
$3.26 MYR 12.86
19.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.77
$4.40 MYR 17.38
-20.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.72 MYR 2.84
-65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.82
$11.83 MYR 46.73
0.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 MYR 3.67
$0.69 MYR 2.73
34.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.34
$1.09 MYR 4.31
0.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 MYR 7.69
$4.80 MYR 18.97
-59.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.95
$0.51 MYR 2.01
-3.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7K MYR 180.7K
$30.7K MYR 121.2K
49.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K MYR 146.0K
$32.5K MYR 128.5K
13.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.74 MYR 165
$65.5 MYR 259
-36.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.98 MYR 35.46
$11.70 MYR 46.23
-23.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 MYR 98.9
$22.77 MYR 89.9
9.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.52 MYR 117
$37.29 MYR 147
-20.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91 MYR 39.14
$5.92 MYR 23.38
67.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 MYR 18.17
$3.55 MYR 14.04
29.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 MYR 555
$262 MYR 1,034
-46.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 MYR 23.7K
$9,586 MYR 37.9K
-37.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 MYR 264
$61.8 MYR 244
8.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 MYR 124
$37.09 MYR 147
-15.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 MYR 333
$85.2 MYR 337
-1.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 MYR 281
$79.0 MYR 312
-9.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MYR 1,117
$384 MYR 1,517
-26.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 MYR 819
$273 MYR 1,076
-23.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 MYR 2,207
$641 MYR 2,533
-12.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,542
$471 MYR 1,862
-17.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 MYR 8,565
$1,756 MYR 6,935
23.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,569 MYR 6,196
$883 MYR 3,487
77.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Batu Kawan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 MYR 2,159
$1,904 MYR 7,521
-71.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
4
6.75%

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

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: February 28, 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

Similar cities