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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 8.2% cheaper than Butterworth without rent, and 7.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 13% cheaper than Butterworth without rent, and 4.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.42

$3.13 MYR 12.36

-7.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.78 MYR 78.2

$20.92 MYR 82.6

-5.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.81

$4.77 MYR 18.85

-0.21%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.69

$2.97 MYR 11.72

-17.51%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.77

$0.73 MYR 2.87

-4.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.17

$0.36 MYR 1.42

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.44

$4.18 MYR 16.50

-30.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MYR 14.21

$4.39 MYR 17.35

-18.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.40

$1.81 MYR 7.14

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.03 MYR 4.06

8.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.05

$1.68 MYR 6.62

-39.29%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.65

$2.15 MYR 8.50

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.47

$14.52 MYR 57.4

-32.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 15.23

$4.77 MYR 18.86

-19.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.69

$9.41 MYR 37.16

-14.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.80

$2.88 MYR 11.36

3.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MYR 4.36

$1.45 MYR 5.73

-24.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.00

$2.61 MYR 10.31

-3.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.18

$1.53 MYR 6.06

18.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.18 MYR 4.66

-5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.92

$1.17 MYR 4.61

5.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.62

$0.95 MYR 3.75

76.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.46 MYR 1.81

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.56

$4.27 MYR 16.88

-1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.67 MYR 85.6

$18.85 MYR 74.4

14.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.34

$2.70 MYR 10.66

43.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.77

$3.50 MYR 13.81

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.68 MYR 2.67

-63.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 46.82

$11.60 MYR 45.84

2.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.67

$0.70 MYR 2.75

32.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.34

$0.50 MYR 1.97

120.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 MYR 7.69

$4.66 MYR 18.40

-58.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.46 MYR 1.82

6.52%

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

$45.7K MYR 180.7K

$33.5K MYR 132.2K

36.62%

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

$37.0K MYR 146.0K

$27.1K MYR 107.0K

36.36%

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

$41.74 MYR 165

$39.04 MYR 154

6.92%

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

$8.98 MYR 35.46

$10.18 MYR 40.21

-11.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.04 MYR 98.9

$26.07 MYR 103

-3.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 MYR 117

$36.80 MYR 145

-19.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.91 MYR 39.14

$5.80 MYR 22.92

70.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MYR 18.17

$4.92 MYR 19.44

-6.50%

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

$140 MYR 555

$239 MYR 944

-41.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 MYR 23.7K

$6,196 MYR 24.5K

-3.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 MYR 264

$55.9 MYR 221

19.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.50 MYR 124

$29.37 MYR 116

7.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 333

$62.1 MYR 245

35.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 281

$52.3 MYR 206

36.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MYR 1,117

$381 MYR 1,507

-25.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 819

$275 MYR 1,085

-24.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 MYR 2,207

$632 MYR 2,497

-11.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,542

$475 MYR 1,877

-17.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,168 MYR 8,565

$1,531 MYR 6,046

41.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 MYR 6,196

$963 MYR 3,802

62.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 MYR 2,159

$994 MYR 3,928

-45.05%

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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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