Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Kuching versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $933 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuching is roughly 49% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Bukit Mertajam 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.90

$3.47 MYR 14.20

-2.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.8

$21.02 MYR 86.0

16.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.25

$4.90 MYR 20.04

1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.14

$2.67 MYR 10.91

20.22%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.09

$0.82 MYR 3.36

-8.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.32 MYR 1.32

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.50

$2.43 MYR 9.96

96.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 25.02

$4.43 MYR 18.14

37.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.75

$2.16 MYR 8.83

10.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.19

$1.07 MYR 4.40

18.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.78

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-33.14%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.21

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.71

$15.63 MYR 64.0

-27.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$4.86 MYR 19.89

-11.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.91

$10.02 MYR 41.02

-2.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.93

$2.33 MYR 9.55

35.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.48

$1.49 MYR 6.10

-10.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.12

$2.25 MYR 9.20

9.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.34

$1.20 MYR 4.90

49.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.50

$0.86 MYR 3.54

55.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.80 MYR 3.26

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.70

$0.71 MYR 2.91

130.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.23

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.38

$4.45 MYR 18.19

6.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.3

$18.98 MYR 77.7

17.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.84

$2.43 MYR 9.95

69.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 21.01

$3.80 MYR 15.54

35.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.83

$1.22 MYR 4.98

-22.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$0.50 MYR 2.05

140.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.56

$4.99 MYR 20.40

69.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.32

$0.82 MYR 3.34

-1.22%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.5K

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

-2.70%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.4K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

3.76%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$50.8 MYR 208

-29.83%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.83

$8.67 MYR 35.49

17.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$31.31 MYR 128

-19.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.99

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.67

$4.57 MYR 18.72

10.50%

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

$136 MYR 555

$242 MYR 989

-43.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.4K

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

46.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 262

$53.7 MYR 220

18.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$34.48 MYR 141

7.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 366

$72.5 MYR 297

23.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 264

$97.2 MYR 398

-33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,472

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 991

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,629

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,944

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,611

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,249

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,194

$555 MYR 2,270

-3.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.2

4.05%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bukit Mertajam pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Kuching vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $259 per month, with Bukit Mertajam cheaper across the board.

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 Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($870 vs $583 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Bukit Mertajam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Kuching. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Kuching versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bukit Mertajam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Bukit Mertajam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.