Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Penang

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 9.7% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 7.2% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 11.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.39

$3.07 MYR 12.10

-5.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.78 MYR 78.0

$21.19 MYR 83.5

-6.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.76

$4.20 MYR 16.53

13.33%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.66

$2.96 MYR 11.68

-17.23%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.77

$0.74 MYR 2.92

-5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.16

$0.37 MYR 1.44

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.41

$4.49 MYR 17.69

-35.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MYR 14.18

$4.40 MYR 17.35

-18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.38

$1.90 MYR 7.50

-1.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.42

$0.99 MYR 3.91

13.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$2.05 MYR 8.09

-50.24%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.62

$2.15 MYR 8.46

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.37

$17.37 MYR 68.4

-43.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 15.19

$5.00 MYR 19.69

-23.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.61

$14.88 MYR 58.6

-46.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.77

$2.78 MYR 10.93

7.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MYR 4.35

$1.47 MYR 5.79

-25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 9.97

$2.58 MYR 10.18

-1.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.16

$2.19 MYR 8.64

-16.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.41

$1.14 MYR 4.49

-1.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.90

$1.20 MYR 4.73

3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.60

$0.89 MYR 3.52

88.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.52

$4.35 MYR 17.13

-3.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.67 MYR 85.4

$19.52 MYR 76.9

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.31

$2.62 MYR 10.32

48.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.73

$3.48 MYR 13.71

0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.46 MYR 1.80

-45.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 46.70

$17.36 MYR 68.4

-31.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.66

$0.68 MYR 2.68

36.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.33

$0.50 MYR 1.98

120.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 MYR 7.67

$7.19 MYR 28.32

-72.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

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

$45.7K MYR 180.2K

$34.0K MYR 133.9K

34.63%

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

$37.0K MYR 145.6K

$27.9K MYR 109.8K

32.59%

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

$41.74 MYR 164

$39.37 MYR 155

6.02%

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

$8.98 MYR 35.37

$10.01 MYR 39.44

-10.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.04 MYR 98.7

$31.45 MYR 124

-20.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 MYR 116

$33.02 MYR 130

-10.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.91 MYR 39.04

$5.53 MYR 21.78

79.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MYR 18.12

$4.81 MYR 18.96

-4.37%

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

$140 MYR 554

$237 MYR 934

-40.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 MYR 23.6K

$6,252 MYR 24.6K

-4.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 MYR 263

$54.3 MYR 214

23.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.50 MYR 124

$29.00 MYR 114

8.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 332

$62.5 MYR 246

35.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 281

$52.4 MYR 207

35.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 MYR 1,115

$394 MYR 1,552

-28.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 817

$230 MYR 907

-9.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 MYR 2,202

$641 MYR 2,524

-12.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,538

$517 MYR 2,037

-24.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,168 MYR 8,543

$2,335 MYR 9,201

-7.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 MYR 6,180

$1,191 MYR 4,691

31.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 MYR 2,153

$974 MYR 3,839

-43.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.16

2.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

Last update for Penang: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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