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: $790 in Kuching versus $827 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,208 in Kuching versus $1,292 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,626 in Kuching versus $1,757 in George Town.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 4% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 41% lower, George Town 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 MYR 11.46

$3.12 MYR 12.82

-10.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.16 MYR 82.9

$21.49 MYR 88.5

-6.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.83

$4.26 MYR 17.52

7.51%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.42

$2.50 MYR 10.27

1.20%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.79 MYR 3.23

-5.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.22

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 11.34

$4.13 MYR 16.99

-33.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 MYR 15.12

$4.68 MYR 19.25

-21.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.85

$1.89 MYR 7.78

1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.50

$1.11 MYR 4.58

-1.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.38

$1.68 MYR 6.90

-36.90%

Eggs

$2.16 MYR 8.91

$2.07 MYR 8.50

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 40.02

$17.19 MYR 70.7

-43.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.36

$4.99 MYR 20.52

-25.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 32.52

$10.55 MYR 43.41

-25.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MYR 12.22

$2.77 MYR 11.42

7.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.60

$1.43 MYR 5.90

-21.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.30

$2.15 MYR 8.87

16.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.20

$1.25 MYR 5.16

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.70

$0.90 MYR 3.68

26.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.12

$1.16 MYR 4.78

6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.95

$0.68 MYR 2.82

148.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.55 MYR 2.26

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.71

$4.07 MYR 16.77

5.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.77 MYR 85.5

$12.11 MYR 49.85

71.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.91

$2.70 MYR 11.11

43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.82

$3.47 MYR 14.28

-3.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.04

$0.49 MYR 2.02

-48.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.70

$11.85 MYR 48.77

-2.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MYR 3.78

$1.15 MYR 4.73

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.49

$0.43 MYR 1.79

153.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 MYR 7.86

$6.32 MYR 25.99

-69.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.93

$0.46 MYR 1.88

2.17%

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

$44.5K MYR 183.2K

$33.2K MYR 136.5K

34.20%

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

$37.3K MYR 153.5K

$25.3K MYR 104.0K

47.61%

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

$41.77 MYR 172

$38.95 MYR 160

7.24%

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

$8.90 MYR 36.62

$9.62 MYR 39.59

-7.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 MYR 102

$28.97 MYR 119

-14.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 MYR 120

$38.93 MYR 160

-24.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.75 MYR 40.14

$3.85 MYR 15.85

153.25%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.78

$3.95 MYR 16.27

21.77%

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

$143 MYR 588

$151 MYR 620

-5.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,177 MYR 25.4K

$4,630 MYR 19.1K

33.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 MYR 270

$52.4 MYR 216

25.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.65 MYR 130

$28.46 MYR 117

11.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 357

$60.9 MYR 251

42.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 297

$52.6 MYR 217

37.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,147

$366 MYR 1,504

-23.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 MYR 849

$253 MYR 1,040

-18.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,321

$715 MYR 2,941

-21.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,579

$494 MYR 2,034

-22.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,364

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,519 MYR 6,250

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,186

$1,095 MYR 4,505

-51.46%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for George Town: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kuching and $366 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 106% 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 $241 vs $250 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, salaries run 106% lower in George Town. 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: $279 in Kuching versus $366 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 2% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $143 in Kuching versus $151 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.