Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kepong Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kepong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $889 per month in Kuching vs $941 in Kepong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,371 per month in Kuching vs $1,363 in Kepong, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,852 per month in Kuching vs $1,785 in Kepong, rent included.

Kuching is about 5% cheaper than Kepong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuching and Kepong are more affordable than the global median – Kuching 36% lower, Kepong 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.35

$3.78 MYR 15.37

-6.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.07 MYR 102

$24.88 MYR 101

0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

Cappuccino

$3.35 MYR 13.64

$2.94 MYR 11.96

13.95%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.24

$0.87 MYR 3.55

-8.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.45 MYR 1.83

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.63 MYR 18.84

$3.43 MYR 13.95

34.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.67

$5.96 MYR 24.24

1.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 MYR 9.47

$1.75 MYR 7.12

33.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.03 MYR 4.19

16.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.45 MYR 5.91

-15.86%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.40

$1.79 MYR 7.28

43.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 MYR 46.74

$9.74 MYR 39.64

17.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.04

$3.38 MYR 13.75

31.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.38

$9.59 MYR 39.00

0.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.69

$3.29 MYR 13.37

2.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.70 MYR 6.93

-21.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.76 MYR 11.23

-11.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.63 MYR 6.62

14.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.37

$1.44 MYR 5.84

9.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.73 MYR 7.02

-33.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MYR 6.46

$1.38 MYR 5.59

15.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.55 MYR 2.23

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MYR 19.53

$4.19 MYR 17.05

14.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 MYR 86.2

$13.97 MYR 56.9

51.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 MYR 16.56

$2.69 MYR 10.94

51.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.63

$3.01 MYR 12.24

68.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MYR 2.58

$0.68 MYR 2.77

-7.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 51.2

$12.20 MYR 49.63

3.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$1.26 MYR 5.12

-23.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$0.38 MYR 1.55

231.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 36.00

$9.27 MYR 37.70

-4.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.74 MYR 3.02

14.86%

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

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

$42.9K MYR 174.3K

-0.89%

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

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

$33.5K MYR 136.5K

9.49%

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

$35.37 MYR 144

$49.88 MYR 203

-29.09%

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

$10.29 MYR 41.88

$8.25 MYR 33.55

24.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 MYR 98.7

$27.06 MYR 110

-10.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.72 MYR 125

$44.12 MYR 179

-30.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 MYR 49.84

$6.08 MYR 24.74

101.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$4.95 MYR 20.15

-0.81%

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

$135 MYR 551

$167 MYR 680

-18.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

$4,520 MYR 18.4K

59.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MYR 258

$61.4 MYR 250

3.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 MYR 154

$24.57 MYR 100.0

54.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 MYR 369

$81.7 MYR 332

11.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 272

$49.99 MYR 203

33.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,510

$432 MYR 1,756

-14.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 MYR 977

$334 MYR 1,357

-27.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,635

$701 MYR 2,852

-7.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,845

$497 MYR 2,023

-8.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 MYR 8,593

$2,099 MYR 8,538

0.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 MYR 6,313

$1,117 MYR 4,543

38.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,229

$669 MYR 2,720

-18.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.06

7.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kepong: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $371 in Kuching versus $432 in Kepong. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Kepong, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kuching versus $25.00 in Kepong. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Kuching vs $229 in Kepong – so Kepong 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 Kepong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $889 in Kuching, $941 in Kepong – roughly 6% apart. Kepong costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,334 per month in Kuching and $1,411 in Kepong. 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.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Kuching. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $135 per month in Kuching and $167 in Kepong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuching, where all-in costs run around $889, than in Kepong at $941. In Kuching it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kepong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kuching has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $889 in Kuching to $941 in Kepong. 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, Kepong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.