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 $790 per month in Kuching vs $877 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,208 per month in Kuching vs $1,334 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,626 per month in Kuching vs $1,791 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Kuching is about 10% cheaper than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuching and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Kuching 41% lower, Kangar, Perlis 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 MYR 11.46

$3.60 MYR 14.82

-22.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.16 MYR 82.9

$18.94 MYR 77.9

6.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.83

$4.75 MYR 19.53

-3.58%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.42

$2.87 MYR 11.80

-11.85%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.73 MYR 3.01

2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.22

$0.37 MYR 1.51

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 11.34

$3.50 MYR 14.39

-21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 MYR 15.12

$5.03 MYR 20.72

-27.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.85

$1.88 MYR 7.73

1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.50

$0.99 MYR 4.08

10.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.38

$1.30 MYR 5.35

-18.46%

Eggs

$2.16 MYR 8.91

$2.11 MYR 8.69

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 40.02

$15.08 MYR 62.1

-35.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.36

$4.44 MYR 18.25

-15.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 32.52

$9.40 MYR 38.68

-15.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MYR 12.22

$3.00 MYR 12.34

-1.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.60

$1.47 MYR 6.05

-23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.30

$2.53 MYR 10.39

-1.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.20

$1.45 MYR 5.97

20.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.70

$1.19 MYR 4.89

-4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.12

$1.26 MYR 5.19

-1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.95

$0.99 MYR 4.08

70.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.56 MYR 2.30

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.71

$4.33 MYR 17.80

-0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.77 MYR 85.5

$18.87 MYR 77.6

10.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.91

$2.76 MYR 11.35

40.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.82

$2.86 MYR 11.78

17.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.04

$0.72 MYR 2.97

-65.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.70

$11.83 MYR 48.68

-2.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MYR 3.78

$1.19 MYR 4.91

-22.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.49

$1.04 MYR 4.26

4.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 MYR 7.86

$5.73 MYR 23.59

-66.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.93

$0.46 MYR 1.91

2.17%

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

$44.5K MYR 183.2K

$35.8K MYR 147.4K

24.29%

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

$37.3K MYR 153.5K

$31.1K MYR 128.0K

19.91%

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

$41.77 MYR 172

$43.08 MYR 177

-3.04%

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

$8.90 MYR 36.62

$9.26 MYR 38.09

-3.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 MYR 102

$28.55 MYR 117

-12.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 MYR 120

$36.94 MYR 152

-20.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.75 MYR 40.14

$6.03 MYR 24.80

61.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.78

$4.81 MYR 19.80

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

$143 MYR 588

$191 MYR 785

-25.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,177 MYR 25.4K

$6,937 MYR 28.5K

-10.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 MYR 270

$60.8 MYR 250

7.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.65 MYR 130

$27.37 MYR 113

15.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 357

$74.1 MYR 305

17.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 297

$50.6 MYR 208

42.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,147

$387 MYR 1,594

-28.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 MYR 849

$269 MYR 1,105

-23.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,321

$634 MYR 2,609

-11.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,579

$464 MYR 1,910

-17.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,364

$2,158 MYR 8,878

-5.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,519 MYR 6,250

$830 MYR 3,414

83.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Kuching versus $387 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 – $241 in Kuching vs $253 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: $790 in Kuching, $877 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 11% apart. Kangar, Perlis costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,184 per month in Kuching and $1,316 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 $790 in Kuching and $877 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 $790 in Kuching and $877 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 $790 in Kuching to $877 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.