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: $870 in Kuching versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $1,379 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,826 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 7% less than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Kuala Terengganu 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.87

$2.53 MYR 10.32

34.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.6

$23.42 MYR 95.6

4.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.20

$5.06 MYR 20.65

-2.17%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.11

$2.74 MYR 11.18

17.15%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.47 MYR 1.90

59.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.28 MYR 1.15

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.45

$3.77 MYR 15.41

26.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 24.96

$4.50 MYR 18.35

35.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$1.77 MYR 7.24

34.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.18

$1.05 MYR 4.28

20.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.52 MYR 6.20

-23.03%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.19

$1.91 MYR 7.82

30.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.59

$11.50 MYR 46.96

-0.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.56

$4.52 MYR 18.46

-4.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.81

$10.20 MYR 41.62

-4.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.90

$3.49 MYR 14.24

-9.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.47

$1.59 MYR 6.51

-15.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.10

$2.42 MYR 9.89

2.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.32

$1.68 MYR 6.87

6.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

$1.27 MYR 5.19

5.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.32 MYR 5.40

-12.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.68

$1.18 MYR 4.80

38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.57 MYR 2.31

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.33

$4.53 MYR 18.51

4.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.1

$17.43 MYR 71.2

28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.79

$2.93 MYR 11.96

40.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 20.95

$3.49 MYR 14.26

46.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.38

$0.77 MYR 3.14

-24.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.0

$10.74 MYR 43.84

16.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.82

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-16.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.45 MYR 1.85

166.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.48

$8.33 MYR 33.99

1.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.31

$0.82 MYR 3.34

-1.22%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.0K

$46.2K MYR 188.6K

-10.92%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.0K

$34.7K MYR 141.5K

5.29%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$53.7 MYR 219

-33.56%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.73

$9.08 MYR 37.08

12.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$30.68 MYR 125

-18.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$42.43 MYR 173

-29.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.87

$6.89 MYR 28.14

77.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.61

$4.51 MYR 18.41

11.97%

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

$136 MYR 553

$175 MYR 715

-22.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.3K

$5,228 MYR 21.3K

37.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 261

$64.9 MYR 265

-1.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$30.80 MYR 126

20.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 365

$79.6 MYR 325

12.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 263

$67.4 MYR 275

-4.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,468

$454 MYR 1,852

-20.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 988

$273 MYR 1,115

-11.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,622

$681 MYR 2,780

-5.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,939

$551 MYR 2,250

-13.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,589

$2,147 MYR 8,765

-2.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,233

$1,004 MYR 4,098

52.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,188

$494 MYR 2,016

8.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.2

4.05%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Kuching and $454 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Kuching vs $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $249 per month, with Kuala Terengganu 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 7% in total monthly costs ($870 vs $932 including rent). Kuching is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 9% 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: $360 in Kuching versus $454 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Kuching versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuching runs roughly 16% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $870 in Kuching versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Kuala Terengganu. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.