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

🙂 Solo nomad: Kuching is 7.4% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 4.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kuching is 9.8% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.8 MYR 11.82

$2.97 MYR 12.54

-5.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.06 MYR 84.6

$20.84 MYR 87.9

-3.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.76

$4.34 MYR 18.32

8.06%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.83

$2.84 MYR 11.97

-9.51%

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

$0.71 MYR 3

$0.69 MYR 2.89

2.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.37

$0.36 MYR 1.52

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MYR 11.68

$4.23 MYR 17.84

-34.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 15.08

$4.41 MYR 18.6

-18.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 MYR 8.24

$1.82 MYR 7.65

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.77

$0.99 MYR 4.18

14.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.27

$2.04 MYR 8.62

-50.49%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 9

$2.05 MYR 8.63

3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 MYR 39.48

$17.11 MYR 72.2

-45.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 16.23

$5.23 MYR 22.05

-26.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 MYR 33.24

$14.77 MYR 62.3

-46.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MYR 12.72

$2.91 MYR 12.25

3.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.1 MYR 4.64

$1.46 MYR 6.18

-24.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 11.06

$2.59 MYR 10.92

1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.75

$2.11 MYR 8.88

-12.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.85

$1.18 MYR 4.98

-2.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.16

$1.21 MYR 5.1

0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 7.07

$0.91 MYR 3.82

84.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.2

$0.45 MYR 1.91

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 17.47

$4.2 MYR 17.73

-1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 81.8

$14.1 MYR 59.5

37.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.7

$2.71 MYR 11.44

37.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 14.26

$3.47 MYR 14.65

-2.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.06

$0.49 MYR 2.05

-48.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 MYR 48.8

$17.98 MYR 75.8

-35.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.83

$0.72 MYR 3.04

26.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.83

$0.5 MYR 2.1

128.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 MYR 8.17

$7 MYR 29.53

-72.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.46 MYR 1.96

8.70%

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

$44.9K MYR 189.4K

$33.6K MYR 141.7K

33.66%

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

$36.1K MYR 152.3K

$27.1K MYR 114.3K

33.26%

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

$42.14 MYR 178

$39.21 MYR 165

7.47%

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

$8.94 MYR 37.71

$10.33 MYR 43.55

-13.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.81 MYR 105

$31.17 MYR 131

-20.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 MYR 126

$32.59 MYR 137

-8.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 MYR 41.73

$5.59 MYR 23.59

76.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 MYR 19.47

$5.01 MYR 21.15

-7.78%

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

$144 MYR 606

$241 MYR 1,014

-40.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,013 MYR 25.4K

$6,174 MYR 26K

-2.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66 MYR 278

$55.3 MYR 233

19.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.77 MYR 134

$28.42 MYR 120

11.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 MYR 361

$61.2 MYR 258

39.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 304

$53.6 MYR 226

34.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 MYR 1,171

$388 MYR 1,637

-28.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 MYR 877

$230 MYR 968

-9.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 MYR 2,409

$640 MYR 2,700

-10.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,645

$522 MYR 2,201

-25.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 MYR 7,934

$2,431 MYR 10.3K

-22.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 MYR 5,607

$1,481 MYR 6,247

-10.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 MYR 2,384

$1,101 MYR 4,643

-48.66%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Penang: October 26, 2025

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