Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Cheras Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Cheras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $870 per month in Kuching vs $1,143 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,398 per month in Kuching vs $1,587 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,926 per month in Kuching vs $2,030 in Cheras, rent included.

Kuching is about 24% cheaper than Cheras, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kuching and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Kuching 36% lower, Cheras 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.87

$3.82 MYR 15.58

-10.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.6

$25.02 MYR 102

-2.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.20

$4.90 MYR 19.99

1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.11

$3.09 MYR 12.63

3.88%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.88 MYR 3.60

-14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.52 MYR 2.11

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.45

$4.54 MYR 18.52

5.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 24.96

$6.47 MYR 26.41

-5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$1.96 MYR 8.01

21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.18

$1.05 MYR 4.28

20.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.50 MYR 6.11

-22.00%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.19

$1.77 MYR 7.22

40.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.59

$18.37 MYR 75.0

-37.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.56

$4.49 MYR 18.32

-4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.81

$10.59 MYR 43.25

-7.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.90

$3.42 MYR 13.97

-7.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.47

$1.95 MYR 7.94

-31.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.10

$2.76 MYR 11.26

-10.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.32

$1.62 MYR 6.60

10.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

$2.19 MYR 8.96

-38.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-33.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.68

$1.34 MYR 5.49

22.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.55 MYR 2.26

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.33

$4.32 MYR 17.65

9.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.1

$14.14 MYR 57.7

57.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.79

$2.79 MYR 11.39

47.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 20.95

$3.01 MYR 12.30

70.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.38

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-20.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.0

$12.17 MYR 49.70

2.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.82

$1.27 MYR 5.19

-25.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.36 MYR 1.47

233.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.48

$9.54 MYR 38.93

-11.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.31

$0.79 MYR 3.22

2.53%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.0K

$42.1K MYR 171.7K

-2.12%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.0K

$34.3K MYR 139.8K

6.58%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$49.68 MYR 203

-28.22%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.73

$11.03 MYR 45.02

-7.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$28.11 MYR 115

-10.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$52.9 MYR 216

-43.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.87

$6.35 MYR 25.93

92.28%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.61

$4.89 MYR 19.97

3.27%

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

$136 MYR 553

$162 MYR 661

-16.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.3K

$4,441 MYR 18.1K

61.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 261

$65.0 MYR 265

-1.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$30.35 MYR 124

22.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 365

$81.5 MYR 333

9.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 263

$86.3 MYR 352

-25.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,468

$413 MYR 1,687

-12.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 988

$466 MYR 1,904

-48.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,622

$689 MYR 2,814

-6.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,939

$486 MYR 1,984

-2.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,589

$2,286 MYR 9,332

-7.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,233

$1,083 MYR 4,423

40.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,188

$1,210 MYR 4,940

-55.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.06

7.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cheras: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Kuching versus $413 in Cheras. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 126% higher in Cheras, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Kuching versus $25.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Kuching vs $271 in Cheras – so Cheras wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cheras is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,305 per month in Kuching and $1,714 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuching, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Cheras – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Kuching and $25.00 in Cheras. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuching, where all-in costs run around $870, than in Cheras at $1,143. In Kuching it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheras it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuching – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kuching. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cheras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.