Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Labuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Labuan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Kuching versus $913 in Labuan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuching versus $1,403 in Labuan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Kuching versus $1,893 in Labuan.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 15% less than in Labuan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Labuan 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$5.41 MYR 22.13

-48.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 80.5

$23.81 MYR 97.4

-17.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.84

$6.55 MYR 26.77

-25.95%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$3.72 MYR 15.21

-31.45%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$1.06 MYR 4.35

-32.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.67

$3.51 MYR 14.35

-18.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 15.09

$4.98 MYR 20.39

-25.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.67 MYR 6.84

12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.01 MYR 4.13

12.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.28 MYR 5.24

-21.09%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$2.11 MYR 8.64

3.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 38.48

$14.92 MYR 61.0

-36.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.24

$4.42 MYR 18.08

-15.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.72

$9.66 MYR 39.51

-14.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$3.00 MYR 12.25

1.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.53 MYR 6.25

-27.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$2.59 MYR 10.61

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.26

$1.38 MYR 5.64

28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-7.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$1.28 MYR 5.23

-3.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$1.03 MYR 4.23

63.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.51 MYR 2.11

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$4.29 MYR 17.53

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 MYR 86.1

$16.63 MYR 68.0

26.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.85 MYR 11.68

30.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$3.00 MYR 12.28

15.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.70 MYR 2.85

-64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.45

$11.76 MYR 48.10

-1.36%

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

$1.04 MYR 4.25

10.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$6.05 MYR 24.76

-68.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.90

$0.46 MYR 1.88

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

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

32.68%

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

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

$31.9K MYR 130.5K

17.05%

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

$42.30 MYR 173

$44.09 MYR 180

-4.06%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.53

$8.95 MYR 36.59

-0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 MYR 104

$28.98 MYR 119

-11.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 MYR 121

$36.71 MYR 150

-19.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.01 MYR 40.95

$5.80 MYR 23.70

72.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.91 MYR 20.09

-4.68%

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

$144 MYR 587

$191 MYR 782

-24.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

$6,796 MYR 27.8K

-10.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$59.8 MYR 245

10.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 MYR 132

$27.52 MYR 113

17.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MYR 354

$72.8 MYR 298

18.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$51.6 MYR 211

38.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,163

$381 MYR 1,558

-25.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 847

$272 MYR 1,113

-23.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MYR 2,289

$641 MYR 2,622

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,570

$469 MYR 1,916

-18.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,314

$1,970 MYR 8,058

3.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 MYR 6,195

$1,287 MYR 5,265

17.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,171

$371 MYR 1,516

43.18%

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 Labuan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $381 in Labuan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $24.00 in Labuan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $248 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 Labuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 43% 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 $381 in Labuan. 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 $24.00 in Labuan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $778 per month in Kuching versus $913 in Labuan – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kuching gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Kuching and Labuan 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 17% less than in Labuan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.