Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Miri Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Miri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Kuching versus $699 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuching versus $1,090 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Kuching versus $1,482 in Miri.

Living in Kuching is roughly 11% more expensive than in Miri, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Miri 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$3.27 MYR 13.38

-14.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 80.5

$11.59 MYR 47.40

69.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.84

$3.86 MYR 15.80

25.65%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$2.63 MYR 10.77

-3.04%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.33 MYR 1.36

-3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.67

$2.88 MYR 11.79

-1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 15.09

$3.78 MYR 15.47

-2.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.37 MYR 5.61

37.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.41 MYR 5.75

-19.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$0.79 MYR 3.22

27.85%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$3.38 MYR 13.81

-35.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 38.48

$10.91 MYR 44.62

-13.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.24

$4.57 MYR 18.68

-18.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.72

$11.78 MYR 48.19

-30.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$3.13 MYR 12.81

-2.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.14 MYR 4.67

-2.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$2.37 MYR 9.71

9.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.26

$1.38 MYR 5.64

28.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$0.58 MYR 2.39

91.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$0.91 MYR 3.74

35.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$0.98 MYR 4.00

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.34 MYR 1.38

44.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$4.11 MYR 16.82

4.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 MYR 86.1

$20.01 MYR 81.8

5.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.99 MYR 12.23

24.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$2.30 MYR 9.42

50.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$1.42 MYR 5.79

-82.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.45

$8.66 MYR 35.42

33.95%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.12

51.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$5.80 MYR 23.73

-66.90%

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

$57.9K MYR 236.6K

-20.07%

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

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

$28.1K MYR 114.9K

32.96%

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

$42.30 MYR 173

$30.68 MYR 125

37.87%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.53

$9.45 MYR 38.66

-5.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 MYR 104

$32.82 MYR 134

-22.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 MYR 121

$28.65 MYR 117

3.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.01 MYR 40.95

$6.05 MYR 24.75

65.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.14 MYR 16.92

13.04%

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

$144 MYR 587

$98.0 MYR 401

46.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

$5,147 MYR 21.1K

17.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$35.09 MYR 144

89.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 MYR 132

$19.12 MYR 78.2

68.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MYR 354

$44.72 MYR 183

93.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$31.45 MYR 129

126.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,163

$317 MYR 1,298

-10.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 847

$164 MYR 670

26.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MYR 2,289

$491 MYR 2,010

13.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,570

$376 MYR 1,538

2.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,314

$1,206 MYR 4,932

68.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 MYR 6,195

$681 MYR 2,784

122.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,171

$686 MYR 2,807

-22.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

3.63

17.63%

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

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Last update for Miri: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $317 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 29% 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 Miri. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $245, 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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Miri. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Kuching versus $317 in Miri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Miri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $20.00 in Kuching. 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 $699 in Miri – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

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

Safety-wise, Kuching and Miri 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 Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.