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: $802 in Kuching versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,218 in Kuching versus $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Kuching versus $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuching is roughly 21% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 MYR 11.19

$1.91 MYR 7.76

44.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.32 MYR 82.4

$19.96 MYR 80.9

1.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.51

$3.70 MYR 15.02

30.00%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.26

$2.23 MYR 9.03

13.45%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.07

$0.74 MYR 3.02

2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.19

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$3.14 MYR 12.74

-11.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 MYR 14.63

$4.70 MYR 19.04

-23.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$1.67 MYR 6.77

14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$1.09 MYR 4.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$0.56 MYR 2.29

89.29%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.73

$1.89 MYR 7.68

13.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MYR 38.01

$22.75 MYR 92.3

-58.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 MYR 15.36

$5.04 MYR 20.42

-24.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 MYR 32.49

$10.43 MYR 42.28

-23.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.14

$3.88 MYR 15.75

-22.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.63

$1.76 MYR 7.13

-35.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.48

$3.48 MYR 14.10

-25.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$2.66 MYR 10.77

-32.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.50

$1.76 MYR 7.12

-36.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$1.00 MYR 4.04

24.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.87

$1.11 MYR 4.52

52.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.36 MYR 1.47

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.00

$4.33 MYR 17.57

-3.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.36 MYR 86.6

$18.90 MYR 76.7

13.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.69

$4.28 MYR 17.34

-9.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.82

$2.61 MYR 10.59

30.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.69 MYR 2.78

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.32

$11.80 MYR 47.83

1.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.76

$1.20 MYR 4.87

-22.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$1.13 MYR 4.59

-1.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$4.25 MYR 17.25

-56.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.46 MYR 1.88

8.70%

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

$44.6K MYR 180.8K

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

0.83%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.3K

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

19.45%

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

$41.24 MYR 167

$26.68 MYR 108

54.57%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.16

$9.95 MYR 40.36

-10.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 103

$28.90 MYR 117

-12.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 MYR 120

$37.31 MYR 151

-20.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.77 MYR 39.62

$5.92 MYR 23.99

65.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MYR 18.77

$4.16 MYR 16.85

11.30%

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

$141 MYR 572

$119 MYR 483

18.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

42.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 267

$11.98 MYR 48.58

449.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.99 MYR 130

$63.2 MYR 256

-49.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 348

$23.23 MYR 94.2

269.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$78.2 MYR 317

-8.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MYR 1,156

$391 MYR 1,584

-27.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 MYR 830

$58.8 MYR 238

248.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MYR 2,255

$656 MYR 2,662

-15.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,566

$477 MYR 1,936

-19.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,692

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,239

$990 MYR 4,016

-44.25%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kuching and $391 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 79% 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 $300 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 21% in total monthly costs ($802 vs $661 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bukit Mertajam earns 79% less. 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: $285 in Kuching versus $391 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 $802 per month in Kuching versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam – a 21% 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 21% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.