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 $804 per month in Kuching vs $875 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Kuching vs $1,342 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,642 per month in Kuching vs $1,808 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Kuching is about 8% cheaper than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuching and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Kuching 40% lower, Kangar, Perlis 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.08

$3.46 MYR 13.68

-19.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.00 MYR 79.0

$19.11 MYR 75.5

4.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 MYR 18.49

$4.73 MYR 18.70

-1.06%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.69

$2.82 MYR 11.13

-13.12%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.94

$0.73 MYR 2.87

2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.27

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.43

$3.45 MYR 13.62

-16.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MYR 14.33

$4.89 MYR 19.32

-25.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.51

$1.82 MYR 7.18

4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$0.99 MYR 3.91

13.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.03

$1.26 MYR 4.96

-19.05%

Eggs

$2.26 MYR 8.91

$2.11 MYR 8.32

7.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 MYR 37.72

$15.08 MYR 59.6

-36.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 14.72

$4.34 MYR 17.13

-14.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 MYR 31.56

$9.46 MYR 37.35

-15.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 MYR 12.18

$2.84 MYR 11.21

8.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.54

$1.47 MYR 5.82

-21.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.36

$2.51 MYR 9.93

4.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 MYR 7.15

$1.43 MYR 5.66

26.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.40

$1.18 MYR 4.68

-5.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$1.29 MYR 5.09

-3.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.88

$0.99 MYR 3.92

75.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.55 MYR 2.18

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 16.67

$4.34 MYR 17.13

-2.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.58 MYR 85.3

$17.98 MYR 71.0

20.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.18

$2.82 MYR 11.16

36.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.71

$2.97 MYR 11.72

16.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.73 MYR 2.88

-65.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MYR 46.78

$11.58 MYR 45.75

2.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.15 MYR 4.55

-14.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.38

$0.99 MYR 3.91

12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$5.95 MYR 23.49

-67.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.96

-6.00%

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

$46.1K MYR 182.0K

$35.4K MYR 139.7K

30.28%

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

$36.3K MYR 143.3K

$31.2K MYR 123.3K

16.25%

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

$40.86 MYR 161

$43.03 MYR 170

-5.04%

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

$9.15 MYR 36.13

$9.19 MYR 36.31

-0.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.01 MYR 98.8

$28.86 MYR 114

-13.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 MYR 116

$37.24 MYR 147

-20.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 MYR 39.00

$5.82 MYR 23.00

69.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MYR 18.65

$4.89 MYR 19.32

-3.48%

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

$145 MYR 575

$186 MYR 734

-21.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,146 MYR 24.3K

$7,019 MYR 27.7K

-12.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 260

$60.0 MYR 237

9.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.81 MYR 126

$27.64 MYR 109

15.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 MYR 340

$73.5 MYR 290

17.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 MYR 282

$50.6 MYR 200

41.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,123

$388 MYR 1,533

-26.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 800

$273 MYR 1,079

-25.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,237

$644 MYR 2,542

-12.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,494

$462 MYR 1,825

-18.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

$1,676 MYR 6,621

24.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

$950 MYR 3,751

63.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 MYR 2,186

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.07

4.91%

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

Last update for Kuching: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Kuching versus $388 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 $20.00 in Kuching versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Kuching vs $250 in Kangar, Perlis – so Kuching 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $804 in Kuching, $875 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 9% apart. Kangar, Perlis costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,206 per month in Kuching and $1,312 in Kangar, Perlis. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kuching and $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $804 in Kuching and $875 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $804 in Kuching and $875 in Kangar, Perlis, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Kuching has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $804 in Kuching to $875 in Kangar, Perlis. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Kangar, Perlis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.