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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Kuching versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuching versus $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Kuching versus $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Kuching is roughly 12% more expensive than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Kuala Terengganu 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$2.41 MYR 9.87

15.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 80.5

$22.12 MYR 90.5

-10.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.84

$4.58 MYR 18.72

5.90%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$2.92 MYR 11.96

-12.67%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.48 MYR 1.96

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.27 MYR 1.11

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.67

$3.60 MYR 14.71

-20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 15.09

$5.00 MYR 20.45

-26.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.55 MYR 6.33

21.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$0.96 MYR 3.91

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.31 MYR 5.35

-22.90%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$2.12 MYR 8.67

3.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 38.48

$15.02 MYR 61.4

-37.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.24

$4.43 MYR 18.12

-15.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.72

$9.49 MYR 38.80

-13.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$2.90 MYR 11.85

4.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.50 MYR 6.15

-26.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$2.52 MYR 10.31

2.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.26

$1.42 MYR 5.82

24.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.18 MYR 4.82

-5.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$1.27 MYR 5.20

-3.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$1.03 MYR 4.22

63.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.52 MYR 2.15

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$4.31 MYR 17.61

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 MYR 86.1

$18.63 MYR 76.2

12.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.83 MYR 11.59

31.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$3.02 MYR 12.34

14.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-66.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.45

$11.55 MYR 47.23

0.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.97

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-15.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$0.98 MYR 4.02

17.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$5.96 MYR 24.38

-67.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.90

$0.49 MYR 2.02

-6.12%

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

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

32.66%

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

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

19.25%

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

$42.30 MYR 173

$43.18 MYR 177

-2.04%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.53

$8.96 MYR 36.63

-0.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 MYR 104

$29.00 MYR 119

-11.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 MYR 121

$37.41 MYR 153

-21.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.01 MYR 40.95

$5.73 MYR 23.45

74.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.85 MYR 19.82

-3.51%

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

$144 MYR 587

$187 MYR 763

-23.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

-11.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$61.3 MYR 251

8.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 MYR 132

$27.14 MYR 111

18.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MYR 354

$73.5 MYR 301

17.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$50.8 MYR 208

40.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,163

$200 MYR 820

41.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 847

$116 MYR 474

78.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MYR 2,289

$648 MYR 2,651

-13.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,570

$273 MYR 1,116

40.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,314

$2,050 MYR 8,383

-0.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 MYR 6,195

$1,138 MYR 4,653

33.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,171

$490 MYR 2,003

8.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.07

4.91%

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

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $249 per month, with Kuching cheaper across the board.

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 Kuala Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching and Kuala Terengganu differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($778 vs $696 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Kuching, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Kuching versus $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $778 per month in Kuching versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 0% less than in Kuching. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kuala Terengganu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Kuala Terengganu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.