Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Bintulu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Bintulu

😐 Solo nomad: Kuching is 7.5% more expensive than Bintulu without rent, and 1.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 13% cheaper than Bintulu without rent, and 3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 MYR 11.42
$3.85 MYR 15.22
-24.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.78 MYR 78.2
$17.70 MYR 69.9
11.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 MYR 18.81
$5.51 MYR 21.76
-13.61%
Cappuccino
$2.45 MYR 9.69
$2.86 MYR 11.31
-14.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MYR 2.77
$0.62 MYR 2.44
12.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MYR 1.17
$0.39 MYR 1.56
-23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 MYR 11.44
$2.75 MYR 10.88
5.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.21
$4.93 MYR 19.48
-26.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.40
$1.73 MYR 6.81
8.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 MYR 4.43
$1.30 MYR 5.15
-13.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 MYR 4.05
$1.33 MYR 5.24
-23.31%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.65
$2.09 MYR 8.24
4.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 MYR 38.47
$16.41 MYR 64.8
-40.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 15.23
$3.32 MYR 13.11
15.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.69
$5.53 MYR 21.86
45.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 MYR 11.80
$1.67 MYR 6.61
79.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.36
$0.91 MYR 3.59
20.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 10.00
$1.60 MYR 6.33
58.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 MYR 7.18
$1.07 MYR 4.24
70.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 MYR 4.42
$0.53 MYR 2.10
111.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.92
$1.16 MYR 4.57
6.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 6.62
$0.73 MYR 2.87
130.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.93
$0.39 MYR 1.56
25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MYR 16.56
$4.02 MYR 15.88
4.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.67 MYR 85.6
$19.29 MYR 76.2
12.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 MYR 15.34
$2.82 MYR 11.12
37.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.77
$1.90 MYR 7.52
83.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$1.16 MYR 4.56
-78.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.82
$15.74 MYR 62.2
-24.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 MYR 3.67
$0.92 MYR 3.62
1.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.34
$0.86 MYR 3.40
27.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 MYR 7.69
$2.38 MYR 9.41
-18.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.95
$0.55 MYR 2.17
-10.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7K MYR 180.7K
$42.7K MYR 168.7K
7.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K MYR 146.0K
$37.2K MYR 146.9K
-0.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.74 MYR 165
$58.0 MYR 229
-28.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.98 MYR 35.46
$8.95 MYR 35.34
0.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 MYR 98.9
$29.66 MYR 117
-15.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.52 MYR 117
$65.7 MYR 259
-55.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91 MYR 39.14
$5.92 MYR 23.39
67.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 MYR 18.17
$4.19 MYR 16.53
9.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 MYR 555
$120 MYR 472
17.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 MYR 23.7K
$6,950 MYR 27.5K
-13.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 MYR 264
$62.6 MYR 247
6.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 MYR 124
$33.76 MYR 133
-6.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 MYR 333
$77.3 MYR 305
9.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 MYR 281
$90.1 MYR 356
-20.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MYR 1,117
$214 MYR 847
31.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 MYR 819
$152 MYR 601
36.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 MYR 2,207
$458 MYR 1,809
22.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,542
$320 MYR 1,265
21.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 MYR 8,565
$1,806 MYR 7,135
20.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,569 MYR 6,196
$1,174 MYR 4,637
33.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 MYR 2,159
$624 MYR 2,465
-12.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
4.5
-5.11%

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

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

Last update for Bintulu: 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

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