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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 10.3% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 9.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 4.7% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.39

$3.51 MYR 13.85

-17.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.78 MYR 78.0

$18.61 MYR 73.3

6.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.76

$4.70 MYR 18.52

1.28%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.66

$2.61 MYR 10.30

-6.13%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.77

$0.64 MYR 2.53

9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.16

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.41

$2.33 MYR 9.16

24.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MYR 14.18

$3.56 MYR 14.01

1.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.38

$1.68 MYR 6.61

11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$1.24 MYR 4.90

-9.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$1.67 MYR 6.56

-38.92%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.62

$2.93 MYR 11.54

-25.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.37

$26.42 MYR 104

-63.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 15.19

$3.45 MYR 13.59

11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.61

$7.14 MYR 28.15

12.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.77

$2.66 MYR 10.47

12.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MYR 4.35

$1.13 MYR 4.44

-2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 9.97

$3.20 MYR 12.60

-20.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.16

$1.98 MYR 7.82

-8.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.41

$1.47 MYR 5.78

-23.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.90

$1.75 MYR 6.89

-29.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.60

$1.12 MYR 4.41

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.48 MYR 1.88

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.52

$4.15 MYR 16.36

0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.67 MYR 85.4

$27.15 MYR 107

-20.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.31

$1.91 MYR 7.51

103.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.73

$1.63 MYR 6.40

114.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$1.54 MYR 6.08

-83.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 46.70

$40.82 MYR 161

-70.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.66

$1.86 MYR 7.32

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.33

$0.46 MYR 1.82

139.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 MYR 7.67

$5.79 MYR 22.83

-66.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

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

$45.7K MYR 180.2K

$29.8K MYR 117.4K

53.45%

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

$37.0K MYR 145.6K

$27.9K MYR 109.9K

32.49%

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

$41.74 MYR 164

$51.8 MYR 204

-19.39%

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

$8.98 MYR 35.37

$9.14 MYR 35.99

-1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.04 MYR 98.7

$33.16 MYR 131

-24.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 MYR 116

$42.77 MYR 169

-30.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.91 MYR 39.04

$2.96 MYR 11.66

234.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MYR 18.12

$4.57 MYR 18.00

0.66%

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

$140 MYR 554

$132 MYR 519

6.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 MYR 23.6K

$4,466 MYR 17.6K

34.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 MYR 263

$59.8 MYR 236

11.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.50 MYR 124

$22.69 MYR 89.4

38.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 332

$70.6 MYR 278

19.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 281

$92.5 MYR 364

-23.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MYR 1,115

$382 MYR 1,506

-26.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 817

$166 MYR 652

25.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 MYR 2,202

$656 MYR 2,585

-14.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,538

$367 MYR 1,446

6.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,168 MYR 8,543

$1,910 MYR 7,524

13.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 MYR 6,180

$1,123 MYR 4,426

39.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 MYR 2,153

$609 MYR 2,401

-10.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

3.8

12.37%

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

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: March 1, 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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