Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Pasig Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Pasig

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Kuching versus $718 in Pasig.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Kuching versus $1,200 in Pasig.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Kuching versus $1,682 in Pasig.

Living in Kuching is roughly 24% more expensive than in Pasig, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Pasig 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.35

$3.97 ₱249

-11.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.07 MYR 102

$25.72 ₱1,613

-2.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

$2.74 ₱172

79.93%

Cappuccino

$3.35 MYR 13.64

$2.31 ₱145

45.02%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.24

$0.66 ₱41.67

21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.31 ₱19.68

25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.63 MYR 18.84

$1.14 ₱71.4

306.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.67

$2.69 ₱169

125.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 MYR 9.47

$1.67 ₱104

39.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.16 ₱73.0

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.03 ₱64.4

18.45%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.40

$2.07 ₱130

23.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 MYR 46.74

$5.70 ₱357

101.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.04

$3.37 ₱211

31.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.38

$7.68 ₱481

26.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.69

$3.20 ₱201

5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.56 ₱97.7

-14.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.96 ₱186

-17.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.70 ₱107

9.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.37

$2.35 ₱147

-33.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$2.60 ₱163

-55.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MYR 6.46

$2.17 ₱136

-26.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.55 ₱34.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MYR 19.53

$2.89 ₱181

66.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 MYR 86.2

$9.55 ₱599

121.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 MYR 16.56

$1.35 ₱84.4

201.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.63

$2.01 ₱126

152.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MYR 2.58

$0.50 ₱31.12

26.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 51.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$0.77 ₱48.31

24.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$0.21 ₱13.11

500.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 36.00

$1.92 ₱121

360.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$1.14 ₱71.4

-25.44%

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

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

$21.1K ₱1.3M

101.50%

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

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

$19.1K ₱1.2M

92.57%

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

$35.37 MYR 144

$123 ₱7,733

-71.33%

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

$10.29 MYR 41.88

$17.58 ₱1,102

-41.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 MYR 98.7

$23.97 ₱1,503

1.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.72 MYR 125

$30.49 ₱1,911

0.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 MYR 49.84

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$6.40 ₱401

-23.28%

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

$135 MYR 551

$133 ₱8,318

2.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

$9,084 ₱569.4K

-20.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MYR 258

$34.53 ₱2,165

83.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 MYR 154

$27.89 ₱1,749

36.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 MYR 369

$72.8 ₱4,563

24.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 272

$54.8 ₱3,437

22.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,510

$277 ₱17.4K

33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 MYR 977

$129 ₱8,061

86.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,635

$520 ₱32.6K

24.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,845

$477 ₱29.9K

-4.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 MYR 8,593

$3,260 ₱204.3K

-35.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 MYR 6,313

$2,540 ₱159.3K

-38.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,229

$440 ₱27.6K

24.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

6.75

-35.26%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Last update for Pasig: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Kuching and $277 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 25% 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: $25.00 in Kuching vs $26.00 in Pasig. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $201, with Pasig 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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pasig is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% 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: $371 in Kuching versus $277 in Pasig. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Kuching. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $889 per month in Kuching versus $718 in Pasig – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Pasig 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 Pasig 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 Pasig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.