Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kuala Lumpur

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 15.3% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur without rent, and 26% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 17.9% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur without rent, and 23.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.8 MYR 11.82

$4.58 MYR 19.31

-38.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.06 MYR 84.6

$28.83 MYR 122

-30.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.76

$4.77 MYR 20.13

-1.68%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.83

$2.96 MYR 12.48

-13.18%

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

$0.71 MYR 3

$0.85 MYR 3.58

-16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.37

$0.5 MYR 2.11

-36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MYR 11.68

$4.23 MYR 17.82

-34.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 15.08

$5.95 MYR 25.11

-39.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 MYR 8.24

$2.08 MYR 8.78

-6.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.77

$1 MYR 4.22

13.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.27

$1.64 MYR 6.92

-38.41%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 9

$2.29 MYR 9.64

-6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 MYR 39.48

$14.84 MYR 62.6

-36.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 16.23

$4.52 MYR 19.05

-14.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 MYR 33.24

$9.51 MYR 40.1

-17.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MYR 12.72

$2.95 MYR 12.46

2.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.1 MYR 4.64

$1.62 MYR 6.85

-32.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 11.06

$2.7 MYR 11.37

-2.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.75

$1.51 MYR 6.38

21.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.85

$1.21 MYR 5.11

-4.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.16

$1.4 MYR 5.92

-12.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 7.07

$1.21 MYR 5.09

38.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.2

$0.68 MYR 2.87

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 17.47

$4.19 MYR 17.68

-1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 81.8

$18.11 MYR 76.4

7.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.7

$3.33 MYR 14.06

11.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 14.26

$4.39 MYR 18.5

-23.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.06

$0.72 MYR 3.06

-65.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 MYR 48.8

$11.74 MYR 49.49

-1.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.83

$1.21 MYR 5.11

-24.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.83

$1.13 MYR 4.78

0.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 MYR 8.17

$4.59 MYR 19.35

-57.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.48 MYR 2.01

4.17%

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

$44.9K MYR 189.4K

$40K MYR 168.8K

12.15%

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

$36.1K MYR 152.3K

$33K MYR 139.2K

9.42%

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

$42.14 MYR 178

$64.8 MYR 273

-34.96%

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

$8.94 MYR 37.71

$11.7 MYR 49.34

-23.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 MYR 105

$25.5 MYR 108

-2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 MYR 126

$45.93 MYR 194

-35.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 MYR 41.73

$7.76 MYR 32.73

27.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 MYR 19.47

$5.23 MYR 22.03

-11.66%

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

$144 MYR 606

$266 MYR 1,122

-45.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,013 MYR 25.4K

$9,267 MYR 39.1K

-35.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66 MYR 278

$61.5 MYR 259

7.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.77 MYR 134

$38.04 MYR 160

-16.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 MYR 361

$86.3 MYR 364

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 304

$79.6 MYR 336

-9.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 MYR 1,171

$578 MYR 2,437

-51.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 MYR 877

$371 MYR 1,566

-43.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 MYR 2,409

$1,061 MYR 4,472

-46.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,645

$628 MYR 2,649

-37.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 MYR 7,934

$3,071 MYR 12.9K

-38.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 MYR 5,607

$1,532 MYR 6,459

-13.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 MYR 2,384

$1,342 MYR 5,659

-57.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.47

-4.47%

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

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 28, 2025

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