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

😐 Solo nomad: Kuching is 3.7% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 21.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kuching is 16.8% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 5.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 MYR 11.42
$1.79 MYR 7.06
61.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.78 MYR 78.2
$20.94 MYR 82.7
-5.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 MYR 18.81
$4.26 MYR 16.82
11.74%
Cappuccino
$2.45 MYR 9.69
$2.29 MYR 9.06
6.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MYR 2.77
$0.49 MYR 1.92
42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MYR 1.17
$0.27 MYR 1.07
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.90 MYR 11.44
$4.36 MYR 17.23
-33.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MYR 14.21
$4.25 MYR 16.79
-15.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.40
$1.50 MYR 5.93
24.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 MYR 4.43
$0.75 MYR 2.97
49.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 MYR 4.05
$0.83 MYR 3.26
22.89%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.65
$1.47 MYR 5.83
48.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.74 MYR 38.47
$14.82 MYR 58.5
-34.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 MYR 15.23
$2.92 MYR 11.54
31.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 MYR 31.69
$5.96 MYR 23.55
34.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 MYR 11.80
$1.38 MYR 5.46
116.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.36
$1.38 MYR 5.44
-20.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 10.00
$1.40 MYR 5.52
80.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 MYR 7.18
$0.85 MYR 3.35
114.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 MYR 4.42
$0.84 MYR 3.31
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 4.92
$1.21 MYR 4.78
2.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 MYR 6.62
$0.95 MYR 3.74
76.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.93
$0.43 MYR 1.70
13.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MYR 16.56
$2.94 MYR 11.63
42.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.67 MYR 85.6
$19.73 MYR 77.9
9.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88 MYR 15.34
$1.42 MYR 5.62
173.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.77
$3.40 MYR 13.44
2.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.69 MYR 2.74
-63.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.82
$11.91 MYR 47.05
-0.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 MYR 3.67
$0.72 MYR 2.85
29.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.34
$0.54 MYR 2.14
103.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.95 MYR 7.69
$3.59 MYR 14.19
-45.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.95
$0.46 MYR 1.83
6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7K MYR 180.7K
$30.5K MYR 120.4K
50.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K MYR 146.0K
$27.7K MYR 109.4K
33.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.74 MYR 165
$38.69 MYR 153
7.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.98 MYR 35.46
$8.28 MYR 32.71
8.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 MYR 98.9
$26.70 MYR 105
-6.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.52 MYR 117
$36.78 MYR 145
-19.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91 MYR 39.14
$6.06 MYR 23.95
63.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 MYR 18.17
$4.14 MYR 16.36
11.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$140 MYR 555
$118 MYR 465
19.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 MYR 23.7K
$6,225 MYR 24.6K
-3.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 MYR 264
$52.3 MYR 207
27.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50 MYR 124
$18.74 MYR 74.0
68.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 MYR 333
$60.6 MYR 239
39.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2 MYR 281
$53.2 MYR 210
33.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MYR 1,117
$261 MYR 1,029
8.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 MYR 819
$140 MYR 554
47.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$559 MYR 2,207
$852 MYR 3,366
-34.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MYR 1,542
$481 MYR 1,899
-18.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 MYR 8,565
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,569 MYR 6,196
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuching
Kota Bharu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 MYR 2,159
$305 MYR 1,205
79.07%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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