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: $782 in Kuching versus $1,003 in Kulim.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,204 in Kuching versus $1,508 in Kulim.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Kuching versus $2,014 in Kulim.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 22% less than in Kulim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 41% lower, Kulim 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.79

$2.61 MYR 10.66

10.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.12 MYR 82.2

$23.18 MYR 94.8

-13.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 MYR 19.58

$3.84 MYR 15.71

24.74%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.42

$2.23 MYR 9.10

14.35%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.71 MYR 2.92

1.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.23

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 11.22

$4.30 MYR 17.59

-36.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 MYR 14.86

$5.32 MYR 21.74

-31.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.78

$1.89 MYR 7.71

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 MYR 4.49

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-2.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$1.44 MYR 5.87

-26.39%

Eggs

$2.25 MYR 9.18

$1.84 MYR 7.53

22.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 MYR 38.60

$22.46 MYR 91.8

-57.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 MYR 15.28

$4.76 MYR 19.44

-21.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 MYR 32.25

$10.41 MYR 42.55

-24.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MYR 12.39

$4.06 MYR 16.61

-25.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.69 MYR 6.90

-32.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.71

$3.46 MYR 14.15

-24.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.23

$2.66 MYR 10.88

-33.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.56

$1.74 MYR 7.13

-35.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$0.99 MYR 4.05

21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 MYR 7.18

$1.11 MYR 4.56

58.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.14

$0.56 MYR 2.27

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$4.35 MYR 17.77

-2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.76 MYR 84.9

$16.46 MYR 67.3

26.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 MYR 15.51

$4.21 MYR 17.21

-9.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 MYR 13.99

$5.65 MYR 23.11

-39.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.49 MYR 2.01

-53.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 48.26

$11.98 MYR 48.96

-1.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.92

$1.19 MYR 4.88

-19.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$0.99 MYR 4.05

16.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 MYR 7.82

$4.42 MYR 18.08

-56.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.47 MYR 1.92

-2.13%

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

$45.8K MYR 187.3K

$44.1K MYR 180.2K

3.92%

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

$36.2K MYR 148.0K

$31.0K MYR 126.5K

16.94%

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

$40.93 MYR 167

$75.6 MYR 309

-45.87%

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

$9.27 MYR 37.90

$9.93 MYR 40.58

-6.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.28 MYR 103

$28.60 MYR 117

-11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.07 MYR 119

$37.15 MYR 152

-21.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 MYR 40.73

$5.85 MYR 23.93

70.26%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MYR 19.11

$5.62 MYR 22.97

-16.90%

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

$145 MYR 592

$117 MYR 478

23.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,146 MYR 25.1K

$4,247 MYR 17.4K

44.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 MYR 266

$108 MYR 442

-39.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 MYR 129

$27.39 MYR 112

15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 355

$74.9 MYR 306

15.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.1 MYR 295

$78.5 MYR 321

-8.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,140

$390 MYR 1,595

-28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 830

$271 MYR 1,106

-24.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MYR 2,325

$657 MYR 2,687

-13.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 MYR 1,575

$467 MYR 1,909

-17.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,089 MYR 8,540

$1,759 MYR 7,191

18.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,518 MYR 6,205

$1,263 MYR 5,161

20.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 MYR 2,213

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Kulim: July 22, 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: $20.00 in Kuching vs $23.00 in Kulim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $307 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,174 in Kuching and $1,504 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 $782 per month in Kuching versus $1,003 in Kulim – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $782 in Kuching versus $1,003 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 28% less than in Kulim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.