Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kangar, Perlis Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kangar, Perlis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $870 per month in Kuching vs $954 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,398 per month in Kuching vs $1,396 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,926 per month in Kuching vs $1,838 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Kuching is about 9% cheaper than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuching and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Kuching 36% lower, Kangar, Perlis 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 MYR 13.90
$3.79 MYR 15.52
-10.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.39 MYR 99.8
$20.49 MYR 83.9
19.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 MYR 20.25
$4.85 MYR 19.85
2.06%
Cappuccino
$3.21 MYR 13.14
$2.68 MYR 10.97
19.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 MYR 3.09
$0.71 MYR 2.90
5.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MYR 1.47
$0.40 MYR 1.62
-10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.77 MYR 19.50
$4.15 MYR 16.99
14.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11 MYR 25.02
$4.76 MYR 19.49
28.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.38 MYR 9.75
$1.84 MYR 7.55
29.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 MYR 5.19
$1.10 MYR 4.51
15.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 MYR 4.78
$1.55 MYR 6.36
-24.52%
Eggs
$2.49 MYR 10.21
$1.99 MYR 8.15
25.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 MYR 46.71
$12.28 MYR 50.3
-7.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.30 MYR 17.60
$4.39 MYR 17.95
-2.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.75 MYR 39.91
$9.77 MYR 40.00
-0.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 MYR 12.93
$3.30 MYR 13.49
-4.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 MYR 5.48
$1.71 MYR 7.01
-21.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 MYR 10.12
$2.67 MYR 10.91
-7.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.79 MYR 7.34
$1.84 MYR 7.52
-2.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 MYR 5.50
$1.10 MYR 4.50
21.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.71
$1.23 MYR 5.05
-6.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 MYR 6.70
$1.01 MYR 4.13
62.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MYR 2.23
$0.49 MYR 2.02
10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.73 MYR 19.38
$4.85 MYR 19.83
-2.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.31 MYR 91.3
$20.05 MYR 82.1
11.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.11 MYR 16.84
$2.98 MYR 12.21
37.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13 MYR 21.01
$4.03 MYR 16.48
27.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 MYR 2.39
$0.74 MYR 3.01
-21.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.49 MYR 51.1
$11.21 MYR 45.88
11.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 MYR 3.83
$1.05 MYR 4.31
-10.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 MYR 4.92
$0.48 MYR 1.95
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.44 MYR 34.56
$7.86 MYR 32.18
7.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 MYR 3.32
$0.84 MYR 3.45
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K MYR 168.5K
$47.0K MYR 192.5K
-12.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K MYR 149.4K
$34.1K MYR 139.7K
6.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.66 MYR 146
$44.65 MYR 183
-20.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.22 MYR 41.83
$9.56 MYR 39.12
6.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.15 MYR 103
$25.71 MYR 105
-2.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.90 MYR 122
$46.17 MYR 189
-35.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.21 MYR 49.99
$7.45 MYR 30.47
63.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MYR 20.67
$5.18 MYR 21.20
-2.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$136 MYR 555
$192 MYR 787
-29.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,186 MYR 29.4K
$5,435 MYR 22.2K
32.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 MYR 262
$65.0 MYR 266
-1.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.13 MYR 152
$30.04 MYR 123
23.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 MYR 366
$88.6 MYR 363
0.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.5 MYR 264
$65.2 MYR 267
-1.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 MYR 1,472
$421 MYR 1,724
-14.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 MYR 991
$330 MYR 1,351
-26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$642 MYR 2,629
$584 MYR 2,389
10.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 MYR 1,944
$494 MYR 2,024
-3.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,104 MYR 8,611
$1,783 MYR 7,299
17.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,527 MYR 6,249
$1,067 MYR 4,368
43.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$536 MYR 2,194
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.37
4.2
4.05%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Kuching versus $421 in Kangar, Perlis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Kuching versus $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $257 – making Kangar, Perlis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kuching and in Kangar, Perlis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $870 in Kuching, $954 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 10% apart. Kangar, Perlis costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kuching compared to Kangar, Perlis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,305 per month in Kuching and $1,431 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kuching and Kangar, Perlis?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Kuching and $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kuching or Kangar, Perlis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $870 in Kuching and $954 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,000 go in Kuching compared to Kangar, Perlis?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $870 in Kuching and $954 in Kangar, Perlis, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Kuching and Kangar, Perlis?
It depends on your priorities. Kuching has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $870 in Kuching to $954 in Kangar, Perlis. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kuching or Kangar, Perlis safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kuching and Kangar, Perlis?
If budget matters most, go with Kuching. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kangar, Perlis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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