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: $777 in Kuching versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,228 in Kuching versus $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,678 in Kuching versus $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuching is roughly 18% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.42

$1.86 MYR 7.58

50.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.41 MYR 83.3

$20.07 MYR 81.9

1.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.75

$3.79 MYR 15.48

21.11%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.52

$2.26 MYR 9.22

14.16%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$0.72 MYR 2.96

-1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.76

$3.03 MYR 12.39

-4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.27

$4.84 MYR 19.76

-22.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.71

$1.60 MYR 6.55

18.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.30

$0.56 MYR 2.29

87.50%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$1.90 MYR 7.74

15.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.13

$22.77 MYR 93.0

-57.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 MYR 15.69

$4.98 MYR 20.35

-22.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 33.57

$10.62 MYR 43.38

-22.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$4.01 MYR 16.38

-25.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-33.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.70

$3.44 MYR 14.04

-23.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.23

$2.53 MYR 10.32

-30.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-32.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.07

$0.99 MYR 4.06

25.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 MYR 6.97

$1.12 MYR 4.59

52.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.33 MYR 1.36

57.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.22 MYR 17.23

-0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.46 MYR 83.5

$18.26 MYR 74.6

12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.85

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-8.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.91

$2.64 MYR 10.77

29.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.68 MYR 2.79

-66.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 48.16

$11.99 MYR 48.97

-1.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.93

$1.15 MYR 4.68

-16.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 MYR 7.77

$4.22 MYR 17.25

-54.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.50 MYR 2.04

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

$45.9K MYR 187.4K

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

4.54%

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

$37.2K MYR 152.1K

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

20.87%

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

$41.82 MYR 171

$26.62 MYR 109

57.10%

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

$9.22 MYR 37.66

$9.67 MYR 39.47

-4.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.53 MYR 104

$28.14 MYR 115

-9.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 MYR 122

$36.80 MYR 150

-18.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 MYR 40.04

$5.98 MYR 24.43

64.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 MYR 18.93

$4.29 MYR 17.54

8.16%

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

$143 MYR 585

$117 MYR 477

22.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

45.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$11.65 MYR 47.56

468.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.34 MYR 128

$64.7 MYR 264

-51.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 357

$23.16 MYR 94.6

277.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MYR 293

$78.6 MYR 321

-8.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,159

$388 MYR 1,583

-26.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 819

$59.9 MYR 245

234.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MYR 2,323

$637 MYR 2,599

-10.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,582

$478 MYR 1,954

-19.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 MYR 8,526

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 MYR 6,166

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$530 MYR 2,165

$555 MYR 2,267

-4.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

3.96

7.83%

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

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $388 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 5% 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 $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $298 per month, with Kuching 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 18% in total monthly costs ($777 vs $656 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 5% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Kuching versus $388 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bukit Mertajam – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $20.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Kuching versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam – a 18% 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 18% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.