Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Butterworth Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Butterworth

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 13.1% cheaper than Butterworth without rent, and 5.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 2.6% cheaper than Butterworth without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.8 MYR 11.82
$3.08 MYR 13.01
-9.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.06 MYR 84.6
$21.52 MYR 90.7
-6.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.69 MYR 19.76
$4.83 MYR 20.38
-2.90%
Cappuccino
$2.57 MYR 10.83
$2.95 MYR 12.42
-12.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MYR 3
$0.69 MYR 2.92
2.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 MYR 1.37
$0.37 MYR 1.55
-13.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 MYR 11.68
$4.12 MYR 17.36
-32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MYR 15.08
$4.51 MYR 19.03
-20.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 MYR 8.24
$1.82 MYR 7.67
7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 MYR 4.77
$1.03 MYR 4.35
9.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 MYR 4.27
$1.72 MYR 7.26
-41.28%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 9
$2.06 MYR 8.67
3.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.36 MYR 39.48
$14.78 MYR 62.3
-36.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 16.23
$4.76 MYR 20.07
-19.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.88 MYR 33.24
$9.91 MYR 41.79
-20.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MYR 12.72
$2.81 MYR 11.85
7.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.1 MYR 4.64
$1.44 MYR 6.06
-23.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MYR 11.06
$2.69 MYR 11.35
-2.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 MYR 7.75
$1.51 MYR 6.35
21.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.85
$1.18 MYR 5
-2.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 5.16
$1.18 MYR 4.96
3.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 7.07
$0.96 MYR 4.05
75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MYR 2.2
$0.45 MYR 1.91
15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 MYR 17.47
$4.29 MYR 18.07
-3.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 MYR 81.8
$14.51 MYR 61.2
33.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72 MYR 15.7
$2.69 MYR 11.35
38.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 MYR 14.26
$3.42 MYR 14.42
-1.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 1.06
$0.68 MYR 2.88
-63.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 MYR 48.8
$11.73 MYR 49.48
-1.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 MYR 3.83
$0.68 MYR 2.89
33.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 MYR 4.83
$0.53 MYR 2.25
115.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 MYR 8.17
$4.67 MYR 19.68
-58.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.11
$0.5 MYR 2.11
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K MYR 189.4K
$34.1K MYR 143.9K
31.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K MYR 152.3K
$27.6K MYR 116.3K
30.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.14 MYR 178
$38.73 MYR 163
8.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94 MYR 37.71
$10.33 MYR 43.57
-13.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.81 MYR 105
$25.77 MYR 109
-3.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.84 MYR 126
$36.76 MYR 155
-18.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.89 MYR 41.73
$5.85 MYR 24.67
69.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.62 MYR 19.47
$4.89 MYR 20.6
-5.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 MYR 606
$236 MYR 997
-39.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,013 MYR 25.4K
$6,153 MYR 25.9K
-2.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66 MYR 278
$55 MYR 232
19.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.77 MYR 134
$29.05 MYR 123
9.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.6 MYR 361
$61.2 MYR 258
39.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 MYR 304
$52.7 MYR 222
36.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 MYR 1,171
$391 MYR 1,647
-28.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 MYR 877
$268 MYR 1,128
-22.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$571 MYR 2,409
$654 MYR 2,757
-12.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,645
$481 MYR 2,027
-18.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,881 MYR 7,934
$1,596 MYR 6,729
17.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,330 MYR 5,607
$1,068 MYR 4,502
24.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Butterworth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$565 MYR 2,384
$940 MYR 3,965
-39.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
4.16
2.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

Last update for Butterworth: October 29, 2025

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