Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kota Bharu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kota Bharu

😐 Solo nomad: Kuching is 26% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 23.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kuching is 30.1% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.8 MYR 11.82

$1.82 MYR 7.66

53.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.06 MYR 84.6

$21.31 MYR 89.9

-5.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.76

$4.21 MYR 17.76

11.40%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.83

$2.32 MYR 9.79

10.78%

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

$0.71 MYR 3

$0.45 MYR 1.9

57.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.37

$0.27 MYR 1.15

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MYR 11.68

$4.27 MYR 18.02

-35.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 15.08

$4.17 MYR 17.58

-14.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 MYR 8.24

$1.57 MYR 6.62

24.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.77

$0.76 MYR 3.19

48.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.27

$0.83 MYR 3.51

21.69%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 9

$1.55 MYR 6.55

37.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 MYR 39.48

$15.17 MYR 64

-38.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 16.23

$2.95 MYR 12.43

30.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 MYR 33.24

$6.19 MYR 26.11

27.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MYR 12.72

$1.4 MYR 5.88

115.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.1 MYR 4.64

$1.43 MYR 6.04

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 11.06

$1.38 MYR 5.8

89.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.75

$0.9 MYR 3.8

104.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.85

$0.83 MYR 3.5

38.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.16

$1.16 MYR 4.89

5.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 7.07

$0.92 MYR 3.86

82.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.2

$0.4 MYR 1.71

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 17.47

$3.07 MYR 12.97

34.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 81.8

$14.59 MYR 61.5

33.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.7

$1.4 MYR 5.9

165.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 14.26

$3.43 MYR 14.45

-1.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.06

$0.74 MYR 3.12

-66.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 MYR 48.8

$11.63 MYR 49.04

-0.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.83

$0.69 MYR 2.91

31.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.83

$0.54 MYR 2.26

111.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 MYR 8.17

$3.64 MYR 15.35

-46.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

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

$44.9K MYR 189.4K

$31K MYR 130.6K

44.96%

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

$36.1K MYR 152.3K

$27.2K MYR 114.8K

32.62%

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

$42.14 MYR 178

$38.1 MYR 161

10.60%

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

$8.94 MYR 37.71

$8.15 MYR 34.38

9.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 MYR 105

$26.59 MYR 112

-6.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 MYR 126

$36.56 MYR 154

-18.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 MYR 41.73

$5.77 MYR 24.33

71.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 MYR 19.47

$4.26 MYR 17.98

8.45%

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

$144 MYR 606

$116 MYR 489

24.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,013 MYR 25.4K

$6,301 MYR 26.6K

-4.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66 MYR 278

$53.4 MYR 225

23.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.77 MYR 134

$18.9 MYR 79.7

68.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 MYR 361

$61.7 MYR 260

38.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 304

$51.8 MYR 219

39.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 MYR 1,171

$264 MYR 1,114

5.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 MYR 877

$141 MYR 595

47.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 MYR 2,409

$845 MYR 3,565

-32.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,645

$478 MYR 2,015

-18.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 MYR 7,934

$1,767 MYR 7,450

6.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 MYR 5,607

$1,061 MYR 4,474

25.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 MYR 2,384

$325 MYR 1,371

73.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.16

2.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kota Bharu: October 28, 2025

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