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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 24.2% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 7.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 6.7% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 9.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 MYR 10.97

$3.52 MYR 13.92

-21.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 77.8

$19.10 MYR 75.5

3.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 18.87

$4.79 MYR 18.93

-0.21%

Cappuccino

$2.54 MYR 10.03

$2.67 MYR 10.53

-4.87%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.95

$0.68 MYR 2.69

10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.27

$0.39 MYR 1.56

-17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.26

$2.33 MYR 9.22

22.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 MYR 14.02

$3.47 MYR 13.72

2.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.68 MYR 6.63

13.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 MYR 4.33

$1.25 MYR 4.94

-12.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.15

$1.68 MYR 6.62

-37.50%

Eggs

$2.26 MYR 8.92

$2.91 MYR 11.50

-22.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 38.50

$25.95 MYR 102

-62.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 MYR 15.34

$3.64 MYR 14.36

6.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 31.20

$7.09 MYR 28.01

11.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 MYR 12.34

$2.66 MYR 10.52

17.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.38

$1.13 MYR 4.47

-1.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 MYR 9.85

$3.24 MYR 12.82

-23.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.27

$1.97 MYR 7.78

-6.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.52

$1.52 MYR 5.99

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.92

$1.71 MYR 6.74

-26.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 MYR 6.73

$1.13 MYR 4.45

50.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.47 MYR 1.85

6.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.08

$4.02 MYR 15.88

7.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.99 MYR 82.9

$27.13 MYR 107

-22.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.81 MYR 15.05

$1.91 MYR 7.55

99.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 MYR 13.59

$1.63 MYR 6.44

111.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.90

$1.51 MYR 5.97

-84.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.63 MYR 45.94

$40.65 MYR 161

-71.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MYR 3.77

$1.87 MYR 7.37

-49.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$0.44 MYR 1.72

161.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 MYR 7.36

$6.00 MYR 23.69

-69.00%

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)

$46.0K MYR 181.6K

$29.6K MYR 117.0K

55.18%

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

$36.8K MYR 145.5K

$28.1K MYR 110.8K

31.26%

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

$40.85 MYR 161

$51.2 MYR 202

-20.17%

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

$9.20 MYR 36.35

$9.14 MYR 36.11

0.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.66 MYR 101

$32.66 MYR 129

-21.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 MYR 118

$43.05 MYR 170

-30.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.91 MYR 39.15

$2.87 MYR 11.33

245.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 MYR 18.79

$4.76 MYR 18.80

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

$145 MYR 573

$133 MYR 524

9.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,013 MYR 23.8K

$4,434 MYR 17.5K

35.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 256

$59.0 MYR 233

9.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.18 MYR 127

$22.78 MYR 90.0

41.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 MYR 340

$71.1 MYR 281

20.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 285

$94.6 MYR 374

-23.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 MYR 1,084

$378 MYR 1,492

-27.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 MYR 792

$162 MYR 641

23.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 MYR 2,254

$645 MYR 2,548

-11.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,550

$369 MYR 1,456

6.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,134 MYR 8,429

$1,893 MYR 7,478

12.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,555 MYR 6,143

$1,130 MYR 4,463

37.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$547 MYR 2,160

$612 MYR 2,417

-10.63%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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