Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kulim Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Kulim

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $799 in Kuching versus $974 in Kulim.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Kuching versus $1,486 in Kulim.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Kuching versus $1,999 in Kulim.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 18% less than in Kulim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Kulim 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.42

$2.63 MYR 10.39

9.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 79.9

$23.24 MYR 91.8

-12.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.81

$3.78 MYR 14.95

25.93%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.15

$2.22 MYR 8.77

15.77%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.81

$0.78 MYR 3.08

-8.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.17

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 10.87

$4.27 MYR 16.86

-35.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 14.13

$5.46 MYR 21.55

-34.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 MYR 7.68

$1.91 MYR 7.53

1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.44

$1.08 MYR 4.27

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.21

$1.44 MYR 5.70

-25.69%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.61

$1.85 MYR 7.31

17.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 MYR 36.93

$22.34 MYR 88.2

-58.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 MYR 14.76

$4.79 MYR 18.93

-21.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.69

$10.47 MYR 41.37

-23.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 MYR 12.12

$3.97 MYR 15.70

-22.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.37

$1.70 MYR 6.70

-34.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 9.99

$3.30 MYR 13.05

-23.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 6.98

$2.57 MYR 10.13

-31.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.76 MYR 6.96

-34.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.72

$1.03 MYR 4.08

16.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MYR 6.60

$1.12 MYR 4.42

49.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.50 MYR 1.99

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$4.17 MYR 16.45

Wine (Bottle)

$21.61 MYR 85.4

$21.07 MYR 83.2

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.15

$4.26 MYR 16.84

-9.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 13.87

$5.35 MYR 21.14

-34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.90

$0.50 MYR 1.96

-54.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 45.77

$11.99 MYR 47.36

-3.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.20 MYR 4.74

-18.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.32

$0.98 MYR 3.89

11.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$4.35 MYR 17.19

-57.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.46 MYR 1.83

2.17%

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

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

$44.3K MYR 175.0K

0.82%

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

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

$31.3K MYR 123.6K

19.12%

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

$42.29 MYR 167

$74.7 MYR 295

-43.37%

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

$8.83 MYR 34.86

$9.62 MYR 37.99

-8.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 MYR 100

$28.70 MYR 113

-11.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.59 MYR 117

$37.19 MYR 147

-20.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.61 MYR 37.95

$5.88 MYR 23.21

63.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MYR 18.46

$5.63 MYR 22.23

-17.05%

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

$141 MYR 559

$118 MYR 467

19.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

$4,334 MYR 17.1K

41.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 MYR 257

$110 MYR 434

-40.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.44 MYR 128

$26.82 MYR 106

20.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 MYR 342

$74.1 MYR 293

16.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 288

$80.1 MYR 316

-8.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,103

$390 MYR 1,541

-28.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 802

$266 MYR 1,052

-23.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,227

$642 MYR 2,537

-12.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,548

$480 MYR 1,896

-18.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,160 MYR 8,534

$1,919 MYR 7,579

12.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

$892 MYR 3,522

74.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,192

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

3.96

7.83%

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

Last update for Kuching: April 19, 2026

Last update for Kulim: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kuching and $390 in Kulim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20 in Kuching vs $23 in Kulim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $314 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 Kulim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,198 in Kuching and $1,460 in Kulim to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Kuching versus $390 in Kulim. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kuching – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $23.00 in Kulim. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $799 per month in Kuching versus $974 in Kulim – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $799 in Kuching versus $974 in Kulim, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Kulim. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kulim, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Kulim 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 22% less than in Kulim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.