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: $889 in Kuching versus $737 in Rawang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Kuching versus $1,202 in Rawang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Kuching versus $1,666 in Rawang.

Living in Kuching is roughly 21% more expensive than in Rawang, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Rawang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.35

$3.66 MYR 14.89

-3.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.07 MYR 102

$19.88 MYR 80.9

26.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

$5.01 MYR 20.36

-1.60%

Cappuccino

$3.35 MYR 13.64

$2.96 MYR 12.02

13.18%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.24

$0.85 MYR 3.44

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.36 MYR 1.48

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.63 MYR 18.84

$4.16 MYR 16.91

11.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.67

$4.38 MYR 17.82

38.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 MYR 9.47

$1.84 MYR 7.51

26.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.11 MYR 4.52

8.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.71 MYR 6.95

-28.65%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.40

$2.13 MYR 8.68

20.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 MYR 46.74

$16.09 MYR 65.5

-28.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.04

$4.99 MYR 20.31

-11.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.38

$9.73 MYR 39.56

-0.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.69

$2.99 MYR 12.16

12.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.93 MYR 7.84

-31.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.51 MYR 10.21

-2.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.53 MYR 6.21

21.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.37

$1.32 MYR 5.36

18.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.40 MYR 5.68

-17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MYR 6.46

$1.18 MYR 4.79

34.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.57 MYR 2.33

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MYR 19.53

$4.43 MYR 18.04

8.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 MYR 86.2

$19.09 MYR 77.7

11.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 MYR 16.56

$3.02 MYR 12.30

34.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.63

$4.16 MYR 16.93

21.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MYR 2.58

$0.71 MYR 2.89

-11.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 51.2

$12.22 MYR 49.72

2.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$1.72 MYR 7.01

-44.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$0.41 MYR 1.68

207.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 36.00

$6.92 MYR 28.16

27.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.81 MYR 3.31

4.94%

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

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

$42.4K MYR 172.3K

0.28%

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

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

$34.7K MYR 141.1K

5.90%

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

$35.37 MYR 144

$38.27 MYR 156

-7.58%

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

$10.29 MYR 41.88

$9.99 MYR 40.62

3.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 MYR 98.7

$30.48 MYR 124

-20.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.72 MYR 125

$40.42 MYR 164

-24.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 MYR 49.84

$6.55 MYR 26.64

87.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$5.54 MYR 22.55

-11.37%

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

$135 MYR 551

$308 MYR 1,252

-55.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

$10.9K MYR 44.4K

-33.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MYR 258

$61.7 MYR 251

2.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 MYR 154

$35.16 MYR 143

7.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 MYR 369

$85.3 MYR 347

6.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 272

$70.4 MYR 286

-4.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,510

$143 MYR 580

160.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 MYR 977

$104 MYR 422

131.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,635

$594 MYR 2,415

9.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,845

$239 MYR 974

89.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 MYR 8,593

$2,056 MYR 8,366

2.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 MYR 6,313

$1,114 MYR 4,530

39.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,229

$1,018 MYR 4,143

-46.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.24

3.07%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Last update for Rawang: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Kuching and $143 in Rawang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Kuching vs $20.00 in Rawang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $271 per month, with Rawang 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

Rawang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 86% 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: $371 in Kuching versus $143 in Rawang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Rawang – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $25.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $889 per month in Kuching versus $737 in Rawang – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Rawang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Rawang 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 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 Rawang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.