Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Muar Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Muar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Kuching versus $1,002 in Muar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,218 in Kuching versus $1,503 in Muar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Kuching versus $2,003 in Muar.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 20% less than in Muar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Muar 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 MYR 11.20

$2.62 MYR 10.63

5.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.32 MYR 82.5

$23.12 MYR 93.8

-12.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.53

$3.32 MYR 13.47

44.88%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.27

$2.35 MYR 9.53

7.66%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.07

$0.74 MYR 3.00

2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.20

$0.34 MYR 1.36

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 MYR 11.28

$4.36 MYR 17.70

-36.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 MYR 14.64

$5.33 MYR 21.64

-32.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.77

$1.88 MYR 7.63

1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$1.12 MYR 4.55

-2.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$1.42 MYR 5.78

-25.35%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.73

$1.91 MYR 7.75

12.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MYR 38.03

$22.25 MYR 90.3

-57.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 MYR 15.37

$4.85 MYR 19.67

-21.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 MYR 32.51

$10.66 MYR 43.25

-24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.14

$4.03 MYR 16.37

-25.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.63

$1.77 MYR 7.18

-35.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.49

$3.28 MYR 13.31

-21.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$2.61 MYR 10.60

-31.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.75 MYR 7.10

-36.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$1.05 MYR 4.24

18.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.87

$1.07 MYR 4.33

57.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.52 MYR 2.09

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.02

$4.19 MYR 16.98

Wine (Bottle)

$21.36 MYR 86.7

$19.28 MYR 78.2

10.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.70

$4.45 MYR 18.05

-13.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.83

$5.49 MYR 22.28

-37.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.69 MYR 2.80

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.36

$11.70 MYR 47.47

1.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$1.16 MYR 4.72

-19.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$1.09 MYR 4.43

1.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$4.35 MYR 17.67

-57.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.49 MYR 2.01

2.04%

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

$44.6K MYR 180.9K

$43.2K MYR 175.3K

3.20%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.5K

$31.4K MYR 127.3K

18.99%

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

$41.24 MYR 167

$74.7 MYR 303

-44.80%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.19

$9.76 MYR 39.61

-8.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 103

$28.76 MYR 117

-11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 MYR 120

$36.20 MYR 147

-18.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.77 MYR 39.65

$5.85 MYR 23.74

67.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MYR 18.78

$5.80 MYR 23.53

-20.17%

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

$141 MYR 573

$116 MYR 470

21.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

$4,312 MYR 17.5K

40.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 267

$110 MYR 445

-39.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.99 MYR 130

$27.84 MYR 113

14.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 349

$74.4 MYR 302

15.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$79.1 MYR 321

-9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MYR 1,157

$391 MYR 1,587

-27.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 MYR 831

$266 MYR 1,080

-23.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MYR 2,256

$638 MYR 2,588

-12.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,567

$480 MYR 1,949

-19.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,699

$2,160 MYR 8,764

-0.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,229

$824 MYR 3,343

86.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,240

$632 MYR 2,566

-12.68%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Muar: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kuching and $391 in Muar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muar pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $23.00 in Muar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $313 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 Muar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Muar earns 15% less. 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: $285 in Kuching versus $391 in Muar. 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 Muar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Kuching versus $1,002 in Muar – a 25% 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 Muar, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Muar 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 25% less than in Muar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.