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: $774 in Kuching versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Kuching versus $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Kuching versus $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Kuching is roughly 10% more expensive than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Kuala Terengganu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 MYR 11.28

$2.29 MYR 9.08

24.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 80.2

$21.99 MYR 87.2

-8.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.35

$4.36 MYR 17.30

6.19%

Cappuccino

$2.44 MYR 9.68

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-17.85%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.44 MYR 1.75

56.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.28

$0.27 MYR 1.07

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 MYR 10.95

$3.57 MYR 14.16

-22.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 MYR 14.13

$4.86 MYR 19.27

-26.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.54 MYR 6.12

24.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.45

$0.96 MYR 3.79

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$1.25 MYR 4.95

-17.60%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.60

$2.05 MYR 8.11

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.62

$15.08 MYR 59.8

-35.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 MYR 15.45

$4.40 MYR 17.46

-11.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 MYR 31.86

$9.68 MYR 38.38

-16.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 MYR 12.35

$2.98 MYR 11.83

4.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.39

$1.45 MYR 5.76

-23.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.22

$2.57 MYR 10.20

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.04

$1.38 MYR 5.47

28.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.52

$1.24 MYR 4.91

-8.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.66

$1.33 MYR 5.26

-12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.88

$1.05 MYR 4.16

65.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.11

$0.52 MYR 2.07

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.42

$4.36 MYR 17.29

-5.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.39 MYR 84.8

$18.78 MYR 74.5

13.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.34

$2.82 MYR 11.19

37.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 MYR 13.89

$3.01 MYR 11.93

16.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.74 MYR 2.95

-66.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 46.14

$11.98 MYR 47.50

-2.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.60

$1.20 MYR 4.77

-24.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.53

$0.99 MYR 3.91

15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 MYR 7.27

$6.05 MYR 23.99

-69.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.50 MYR 2.00

-2.00%

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

$45.0K MYR 178.4K

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

27.14%

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

$36.0K MYR 142.9K

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

12.54%

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

$41.77 MYR 166

$43.46 MYR 172

-3.89%

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

$8.95 MYR 35.50

$9.35 MYR 37.07

-4.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.07 MYR 99.4

$29.66 MYR 118

-15.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.40 MYR 117

$36.44 MYR 144

-19.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.60 MYR 38.08

$5.79 MYR 22.96

65.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 MYR 18.77

$4.98 MYR 19.74

-5.02%

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

$143 MYR 569

$184 MYR 730

-22.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,074 MYR 24.1K

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

-13.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 MYR 261

$60.9 MYR 242

8.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.95 MYR 127

$26.86 MYR 106

18.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 340

$74.2 MYR 294

15.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 289

$51.1 MYR 202

42.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 MYR 1,093

$199 MYR 787

38.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 798

$120 MYR 476

67.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,243

$648 MYR 2,571

-12.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,536

$273 MYR 1,084

41.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,159 MYR 8,560

$1,973 MYR 7,823

9.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,568 MYR 6,219

$978 MYR 3,879

60.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,201

$505 MYR 2,001

10.00%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Kuching and $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 10% 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 $246 vs $250 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 10% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $706 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kuching pays 10% more on average, 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: $276 in Kuching versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $774 per month in Kuching versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 3% 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 10% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.