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: $870 in Kuching versus $820 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $1,253 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,686 in Miri.

Living in Kuching is roughly 6% more expensive than in Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Miri 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.87

$3.59 MYR 14.66

-5.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.6

$12.47 MYR 50.9

95.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.20

$4.65 MYR 18.99

6.45%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.11

$2.38 MYR 9.73

34.87%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.85 MYR 3.46

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.28 MYR 1.13

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.45

$2.98 MYR 12.16

60.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 24.96

$3.86 MYR 15.75

58.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$1.43 MYR 5.83

66.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.18

$1.89 MYR 7.73

-32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.01 MYR 4.14

15.84%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.19

$3.55 MYR 14.48

-29.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.59

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.56

$4.82 MYR 19.69

-10.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.81

$14.88 MYR 60.7

-34.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.90

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.47

$1.96 MYR 7.99

-31.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.10

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.32

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.36 MYR 1.45

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.33

$4.47 MYR 18.26

5.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.1

$19.69 MYR 80.4

13.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.79

$3.04 MYR 12.40

35.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 20.95

$2.32 MYR 9.49

121.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.38

$0.50 MYR 2.05

16.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.0

$14.52 MYR 59.3

-13.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.82

$1.19 MYR 4.87

-21.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.60 MYR 2.44

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.48

$6.17 MYR 25.18

36.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.31

$0.60 MYR 2.44

35.00%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.0K

$50.2K MYR 204.8K

-17.96%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.0K

$33.6K MYR 137.0K

8.78%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$50.2 MYR 205

-28.99%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.73

$9.62 MYR 39.26

6.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$32.89 MYR 134

-23.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$29.83 MYR 122

0.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.87

$6.09 MYR 24.87

100.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.61

$4.53 MYR 18.50

11.48%

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

$136 MYR 553

$102 MYR 415

33.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.3K

$6,506 MYR 26.6K

10.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 261

$44.24 MYR 181

44.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$22.85 MYR 93.3

62.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 365

$56.7 MYR 231

57.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 263

$42.85 MYR 175

50.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,468

$340 MYR 1,388

5.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 988

$286 MYR 1,168

-15.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,622

$596 MYR 2,431

7.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,939

$581 MYR 2,370

-18.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,589

$1,224 MYR 4,999

71.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,233

$672 MYR 2,744

127.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,188

$689 MYR 2,811

-22.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.12

6.07%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Miri: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Kuching and $340 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Kuching vs $12.00 in Miri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $195 per month, with Miri 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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 28% 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: $360 in Kuching versus $340 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 $24.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Kuching versus $820 in Miri – a 6% 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 6% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.