Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Rawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Rawang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Kuching versus $851 in Rawang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuching versus $1,316 in Rawang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Kuching versus $1,782 in Rawang.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 9% less than in Rawang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Rawang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$3.01 MYR 12.30

-7.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 80.5

$20.97 MYR 85.8

-6.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.84

$4.26 MYR 17.41

13.85%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$2.86 MYR 11.69

-10.84%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.86 MYR 3.51

-16.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.33 MYR 1.37

-3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.67

$4.32 MYR 17.66

-34.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 15.09

$4.29 MYR 17.56

-13.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.83 MYR 7.47

2.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$0.99 MYR 4.03

15.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.65 MYR 6.75

-38.79%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$2.15 MYR 8.79

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 38.48

$14.50 MYR 59.3

-35.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.24

$4.62 MYR 18.88

-19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.72

$9.47 MYR 38.73

-12.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$2.78 MYR 11.36

9.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$2.58 MYR 10.55

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.26

$1.45 MYR 5.93

22.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.19 MYR 4.85

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$1.17 MYR 4.77

5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$0.89 MYR 3.66

88.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.48 MYR 1.97

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$4.17 MYR 17.06

2.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 MYR 86.1

$18.87 MYR 77.2

11.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.71 MYR 11.10

37.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$3.53 MYR 14.45

-1.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.69 MYR 2.84

-63.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.45

$11.60 MYR 47.42

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.97

$0.74 MYR 3.04

31.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$0.54 MYR 2.22

112.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$4.64 MYR 18.96

-58.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.90

$0.50 MYR 2.06

-8.00%

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

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

$33.4K MYR 136.7K

38.35%

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

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

$27.2K MYR 111.3K

37.28%

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

$42.30 MYR 173

$38.80 MYR 159

9.02%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.53

$9.99 MYR 40.86

-10.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 MYR 104

$26.14 MYR 107

-2.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 MYR 121

$37.59 MYR 154

-21.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.01 MYR 40.95

$5.74 MYR 23.49

74.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.86 MYR 19.90

-3.70%

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

$144 MYR 587

$234 MYR 958

-38.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

$6,231 MYR 25.5K

-2.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$54.4 MYR 222

21.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 MYR 132

$28.83 MYR 118

11.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MYR 354

$61.2 MYR 250

41.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$51.9 MYR 212

37.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,163

$381 MYR 1,559

-25.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 847

$264 MYR 1,082

-21.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MYR 2,289

$649 MYR 2,655

-13.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,570

$470 MYR 1,922

-18.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,314

$2,052 MYR 8,395

-0.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 MYR 6,195

$1,134 MYR 4,639

33.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,171

$1,195 MYR 4,887

-55.58%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Rawang: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $381 in Rawang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 125% 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 $21.00 in Rawang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $252 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 Rawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 125% lower in Rawang. 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: $284 in Kuching versus $381 in Rawang. 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 $21.00 in Rawang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $778 per month in Kuching versus $851 in Rawang – 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 Rawang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Rawang 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 Rawang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.