Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Ipoh Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Ipoh

😐 Solo nomad: Kuching is 2.2% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 7.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 9% cheaper than Ipoh without rent, and 5.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 MYR 11.39
$2.55 MYR 10.04
13.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.78 MYR 78.0
$18.97 MYR 74.8
4.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 MYR 18.76
$3.79 MYR 14.95
25.59%
Cappuccino
$2.45 MYR 9.66
$2.32 MYR 9.13
5.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MYR 2.77
$0.77 MYR 3.03
-9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MYR 1.16
$0.34 MYR 1.33
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 MYR 11.41
$3.64 MYR 14.34
-20.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.18
$4.60 MYR 18.11
-21.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.38
$1.84 MYR 7.25
1.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 MYR 4.42
$1.03 MYR 4.05
8.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 MYR 4.04
$1.29 MYR 5.09
-20.93%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.62
$1.85 MYR 7.28
18.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 MYR 38.37
$12.98 MYR 51.2
-24.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 15.19
$5.13 MYR 20.22
-24.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.61
$7.73 MYR 30.44
3.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 MYR 11.77
$2.87 MYR 11.30
4.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.35
$1.72 MYR 6.78
-36.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 9.97
$2.98 MYR 11.74
-15.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 MYR 7.16
$2.02 MYR 7.94
-9.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 MYR 4.41
$1.44 MYR 5.66
-22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.90
$1.34 MYR 5.28
-7.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 6.60
$1.58 MYR 6.23
6.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.93
$0.42 MYR 1.65
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MYR 16.52
$4.19 MYR 16.51
-
Wine (Bottle)
$21.67 MYR 85.4
$17.62 MYR 69.4
22.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 MYR 15.31
$3.46 MYR 13.61
12.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.73
$4.26 MYR 16.79
-18.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.69 MYR 2.73
-63.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.70
$11.96 MYR 47.13
-0.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 MYR 3.66
$1.15 MYR 4.55
-19.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.33
$1.13 MYR 4.46
-2.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 MYR 7.67
$4.42 MYR 17.43
-55.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.95
$0.50 MYR 1.97
-2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7K MYR 180.2K
$43.9K MYR 173.1K
4.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K MYR 145.6K
$31.2K MYR 122.8K
18.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.74 MYR 164
$64.2 MYR 253
-35.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.98 MYR 35.37
$9.34 MYR 36.80
-3.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 MYR 98.7
$28.58 MYR 113
-12.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.52 MYR 116
$23.38 MYR 92.1
26.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91 MYR 39.04
$5.93 MYR 23.36
67.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 MYR 18.12
$3.11 MYR 12.26
47.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 MYR 554
$117 MYR 461
20.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 MYR 23.6K
$2,325 MYR 9,160
157.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 MYR 263
$59.6 MYR 235
12.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 MYR 124
$27.28 MYR 108
15.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 MYR 332
$76.0 MYR 299
11.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 MYR 281
$52.2 MYR 206
36.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MYR 1,115
$381 MYR 1,503
-25.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 MYR 817
$270 MYR 1,065
-23.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 MYR 2,202
$637 MYR 2,509
-12.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,538
$478 MYR 1,883
-18.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 MYR 8,543
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,569 MYR 6,180
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Ipoh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 MYR 2,153
$973 MYR 3,832
-43.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.27
3.96
7.83%

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

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

Last update for Ipoh: March 1, 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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