😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $804 in Kuching versus $781 in Bintulu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Kuching versus $1,224 in Bintulu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,642 in Kuching versus $1,667 in Bintulu.
😐Living in Kuching is roughly 3% more expensive than Bintulu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching40% lower, Bintulu42% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.80MYR 11.08
$3.71MYR 14.66
-24.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.00MYR 79.0
$17.73MYR 70.0
12.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.68MYR 18.49
$5.67MYR 22.40
-17.46%
Cappuccino
$2.45MYR 9.69
$2.80MYR 11.07
-12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75MYR 2.94
$0.62MYR 2.44
20.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MYR 1.27
$0.39MYR 1.55
-17.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89MYR 11.43
$2.80MYR 11.05
3.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MYR 14.33
$4.89MYR 19.33
-25.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90MYR 7.51
$1.74MYR 6.88
9.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12MYR 4.43
$1.38MYR 5.45
-18.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02MYR 4.03
$1.32MYR 5.21
-22.73%
Eggs
$2.26MYR 8.91
$2.11MYR 8.34
7.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.55MYR 37.72
$16.62MYR 65.7
-42.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.73MYR 14.72
$3.33MYR 13.17
12.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.99MYR 31.56
$5.77MYR 22.79
38.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08MYR 12.18
$1.61MYR 6.36
91.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15MYR 4.54
$0.90MYR 3.57
27.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62MYR 10.36
$1.63MYR 6.44
60.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81MYR 7.15
$1.11MYR 4.38
63.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11MYR 4.40
$0.49MYR 1.95
126.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24MYR 4.89
$1.20MYR 4.76
3.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.74MYR 6.88
$0.73MYR 2.88
138.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53MYR 2.10
$0.42MYR 1.66
26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MYR 16.67
$4.08MYR 16.12
3.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.58MYR 85.3
$19.12MYR 75.5
12.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.84MYR 15.18
$2.79MYR 11.01
37.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47MYR 13.71
$1.91MYR 7.53
81.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25MYR 0.99
$1.21MYR 4.79
-79.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.84MYR 46.78
$15.86MYR 62.6
-25.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MYR 3.88
$0.92MYR 3.63
6.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11MYR 4.38
$0.88MYR 3.46
26.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.92MYR 7.60
$2.39MYR 9.46
-19.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.47MYR 1.84
$0.51MYR 2.03
-7.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.1KMYR 182.0K
$42.8KMYR 168.9K
7.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3KMYR 143.3K
$38.2KMYR 151.0K
-5.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MYR 161
$57.9MYR 229
-29.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.15MYR 36.13
$9.27MYR 36.61
-1.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.01MYR 98.8
$29.53MYR 117
-15.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.43MYR 116
$65.7MYR 259
-55.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.87MYR 39.00
$6.00MYR 23.71
64.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.72MYR 18.65
$4.26MYR 16.84
10.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145MYR 575
$122MYR 483
18.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,146MYR 24.3K
$7,059MYR 27.9K
-12.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8MYR 260
$63.3MYR 250
3.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.81MYR 126
$33.69MYR 133
-5.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1MYR 340
$76.8MYR 303
12.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3MYR 282
$89.5MYR 353
-20.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284MYR 1,123
$213MYR 843
33.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203MYR 800
$151MYR 597
33.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$566MYR 2,237
$467MYR 1,845
21.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$378MYR 1,494
$316MYR 1,248
19.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,090MYR 8,254
$1,831MYR 7,234
14.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,556MYR 6,145
$1,198MYR 4,732
29.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Bintulu
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$554MYR 2,186
$639MYR 2,525
-13.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
4.5
-5.11%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Kuching: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Bintulu: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $213 in Bintulu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bintulu pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $18.00 in Bintulu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $222 per month, with Bintulu cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Kuching vs Bintulu: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Kuching or Bintulu?
Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Kuching. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kuching or Bintulu?
On paper, Bintulu earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kuching vs Bintulu?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Kuching versus $213 in Bintulu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Kuching compared to Bintulu?
All in, you'll spend $804 per month in Kuching versus $781 in Bintulu – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Kuching vs Bintulu?
A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 34% less than in Kuching. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Kuching or Bintulu?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bintulu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kuching or Bintulu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $781 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.
How safe is Kuching compared to Bintulu?
Safety-wise, Kuching and Bintulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kuching vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado