Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Putra Heights Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Putra Heights

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Kuching versus $950 in Putra Heights.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $1,391 in Putra Heights.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,832 in Putra Heights.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 8% less than in Putra Heights, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Putra Heights 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.90

$3.65 MYR 14.95

-6.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.8

$21.70 MYR 88.8

12.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.25

$4.93 MYR 20.19

0.41%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.14

$2.86 MYR 11.70

12.24%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.09

$0.84 MYR 3.46

-10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.44 MYR 1.81

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.50

$4.45 MYR 18.21

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 25.02

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.75

$1.76 MYR 7.22

35.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.19

$1.07 MYR 4.38

18.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.78

$1.44 MYR 5.90

-18.75%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.21

$1.74 MYR 7.12

43.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.71

$15.73 MYR 64.4

-27.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$4.53 MYR 18.56

-5.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.91

$9.58 MYR 39.20

1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.93

$3.45 MYR 14.13

-8.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.48

$1.67 MYR 6.83

-19.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.12

$2.41 MYR 9.87

2.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.34

$1.60 MYR 6.55

11.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.50

$1.36 MYR 5.59

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.44 MYR 5.89

-20.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.70

$1.17 MYR 4.77

40.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.23

$0.51 MYR 2.11

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.38

$4.31 MYR 17.66

9.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.3

$13.99 MYR 57.3

59.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.84

$2.98 MYR 12.21

37.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 21.01

$2.99 MYR 12.25

71.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.39

$0.72 MYR 2.95

-19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.1

$12.09 MYR 49.49

3.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.83

$1.26 MYR 5.16

-25.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$0.78 MYR 3.17

53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.56

$4.96 MYR 20.30

70.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.32

$0.82 MYR 3.35

-1.22%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.5K

$42.4K MYR 173.4K

-2.87%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.4K

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

4.17%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$65.1 MYR 266

-45.20%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.83

$9.41 MYR 38.52

8.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$26.20 MYR 107

-4.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$41.09 MYR 168

-27.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.99

$7.58 MYR 31.02

61.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.67

$5.39 MYR 22.08

-6.31%

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

$136 MYR 555

$165 MYR 676

-17.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.4K

$5,404 MYR 22.1K

32.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 262

$65.5 MYR 268

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$16.47 MYR 67.4

125.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 366

$82.1 MYR 336

8.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 264

$40.65 MYR 166

58.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,472

$408 MYR 1,669

-11.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 991

$319 MYR 1,307

-24.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,629

$673 MYR 2,753

-4.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,944

$483 MYR 1,975

-1.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,611

$1,986 MYR 8,129

5.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,249

$1,234 MYR 5,051

23.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,194

$1,103 MYR 4,514

-51.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.06

7.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Kuching and $408 in Putra Heights. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 106% 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: $24.00 in Kuching vs $22.00 in Putra Heights for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $251 per month, with Putra Heights 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 Putra Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 106% lower in Putra Heights. 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 $408 in Putra Heights. 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 $24.00 versus $22.00 in Putra Heights. 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 $950 in Putra Heights – a 9% 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 Putra Heights, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Putra Heights 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 9% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.