Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and George Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and George Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $804 in Kuching versus $843 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Kuching versus $1,306 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,642 in Kuching versus $1,769 in George Town.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 5% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, George Town 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.08

$3.02 MYR 11.93

-7.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.00 MYR 79.0

$21.35 MYR 84.3

-6.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 MYR 18.49

$4.27 MYR 16.86

9.60%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.69

$2.62 MYR 10.35

-6.49%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.94

$0.77 MYR 3.03

-2.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.27

$0.36 MYR 1.44

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.43

$4.36 MYR 17.20

-33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MYR 14.33

$4.68 MYR 18.49

-22.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.51

$1.82 MYR 7.21

4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.03

$1.67 MYR 6.60

-38.92%

Eggs

$2.26 MYR 8.91

$2.10 MYR 8.31

7.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 MYR 37.72

$17.50 MYR 69.1

-45.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 14.72

$4.97 MYR 19.65

-24.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 MYR 31.56

$10.47 MYR 41.35

-23.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 MYR 12.18

$2.86 MYR 11.30

7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.54

$1.40 MYR 5.53

-17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.36

$2.25 MYR 8.90

16.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 MYR 7.15

$1.28 MYR 5.04

41.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.40

$0.87 MYR 3.44

27.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$1.16 MYR 4.57

6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.88

$0.70 MYR 2.76

148.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.52 MYR 2.04

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 16.67

$4.18 MYR 16.51

0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.58 MYR 85.3

$12.70 MYR 50.2

69.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.18

$2.64 MYR 10.45

45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.71

$3.36 MYR 13.29

3.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.49 MYR 1.93

-48.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MYR 46.78

$11.80 MYR 46.62

0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.16 MYR 4.59

-15.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.38

$0.44 MYR 1.73

152.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$6.39 MYR 25.26

-69.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.49 MYR 1.94

-4.08%

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

$46.1K MYR 182.0K

$34.1K MYR 134.6K

35.25%

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

$36.3K MYR 143.3K

$25.0K MYR 98.7K

45.20%

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

$40.86 MYR 161

$38.18 MYR 151

7.02%

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

$9.15 MYR 36.13

$9.68 MYR 38.23

-5.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.01 MYR 98.8

$28.98 MYR 114

-13.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 MYR 116

$38.37 MYR 152

-23.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 MYR 39.00

$3.78 MYR 14.94

161.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MYR 18.65

$4.13 MYR 16.30

14.29%

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

$145 MYR 575

$146 MYR 578

-0.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,146 MYR 24.3K

$4,643 MYR 18.3K

32.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 260

$52.5 MYR 207

25.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.81 MYR 126

$28.61 MYR 113

11.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 MYR 340

$62.5 MYR 247

37.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 MYR 282

$52.1 MYR 206

36.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,123

$371 MYR 1,465

-23.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 800

$253 MYR 999

-19.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,237

$709 MYR 2,799

-20.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,494

$498 MYR 1,969

-24.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 MYR 2,186

$1,112 MYR 4,393

-50.24%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for George Town: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $371 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 101% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $21.00 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $251 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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, George Town earns 101% 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: $284 in Kuching versus $371 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kuching runs roughly 0% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $145 in Kuching versus $146 in George Town. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kuching gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in George Town, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and George Town 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 Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.