Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Lumut, Perak Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Lumut, Perak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $777 in Kuching versus $932 in Lumut, Perak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,228 in Kuching versus $1,398 in Lumut, Perak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,678 in Kuching versus $1,864 in Lumut, Perak.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 17% less than in Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Lumut, Perak 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.43

$3.62 MYR 14.80

-22.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.41 MYR 83.4

$11.83 MYR 48.34

72.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.77

$4.66 MYR 19.05

-1.50%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.53

$2.85 MYR 11.65

-9.47%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.80 MYR 3.25

-11.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$3.74 MYR 15.29

-22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.29

$5.75 MYR 23.49

-34.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.72

$2.09 MYR 8.54

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$1.04 MYR 4.26

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.31

$1.67 MYR 6.81

-37.13%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.95

$2.27 MYR 9.27

-3.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.17

$14.55 MYR 59.5

-34.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 MYR 15.71

$4.74 MYR 19.37

-18.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 33.60

$9.95 MYR 40.65

-17.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.19

$2.93 MYR 11.99

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.58 MYR 6.47

-27.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.71

$2.73 MYR 11.17

-4.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.24

$1.48 MYR 6.03

19.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.28 MYR 5.23

-10.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.08

$1.34 MYR 5.47

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 MYR 6.98

$1.16 MYR 4.75

47.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.12

$4.16 MYR 17.00

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.46 MYR 83.6

$18.49 MYR 75.6

10.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.86

$3.24 MYR 13.25

19.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.93

$4.28 MYR 17.50

-20.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.73 MYR 2.99

-68.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 48.21

$11.86 MYR 48.49

-0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.94

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-16.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.09 MYR 4.45

3.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 MYR 7.78

$4.77 MYR 19.50

-60.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.51 MYR 2.07

-1.96%

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

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

$40.4K MYR 165.3K

13.49%

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

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

$32.3K MYR 132.0K

15.28%

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

$41.82 MYR 171

$63.5 MYR 260

-34.17%

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

$9.22 MYR 37.70

$11.62 MYR 47.48

-20.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.53 MYR 104

$26.09 MYR 107

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 MYR 122

$37.53 MYR 153

-20.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 MYR 40.08

$5.88 MYR 24.03

66.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 MYR 18.94

$5.21 MYR 21.29

-10.94%

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

$143 MYR 586

$270 MYR 1,105

-46.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

$9,393 MYR 38.4K

-34.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$60.8 MYR 248

9.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.34 MYR 128

$37.81 MYR 155

-17.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 358

$86.8 MYR 355

0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MYR 293

$79.0 MYR 323

-9.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,160

$381 MYR 1,556

-25.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 820

$272 MYR 1,110

-26.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MYR 2,326

$633 MYR 2,586

-10.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,583

$477 MYR 1,949

-18.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 MYR 8,535

$2,067 MYR 8,448

1.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 MYR 6,172

$1,245 MYR 5,088

21.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$530 MYR 2,167

$375 MYR 1,532

41.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.47

-4.47%

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

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lumut, Perak: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Kuching pays 41% 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 $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $267, with Kuching cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% 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 Lumut, Perak. 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 $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Kuching versus $932 in Lumut, Perak – a 20% 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 Lumut, Perak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Lumut, Perak 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 20% less than in Lumut, Perak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.