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: $774 in Kuching versus $852 in Rawang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Kuching versus $1,310 in Rawang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Kuching versus $1,768 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

$2.84 MYR 11.28

$3.04 MYR 12.05

-6.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 80.2

$21.02 MYR 83.4

-3.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.35

$4.28 MYR 16.99

8.18%

Cappuccino

$2.44 MYR 9.68

$2.82 MYR 11.20

-13.48%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.91 MYR 3.60

-24.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.28

$0.34 MYR 1.35

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 MYR 10.95

$4.17 MYR 16.55

-33.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 MYR 14.13

$4.31 MYR 17.10

-17.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.84 MYR 7.28

3.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.45

$1.03 MYR 4.08

8.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$1.72 MYR 6.81

-40.12%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.60

$2.05 MYR 8.11

5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 38.62

$14.67 MYR 58.2

-33.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 MYR 15.45

$4.59 MYR 18.22

-15.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 MYR 31.86

$9.40 MYR 37.29

-14.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 MYR 12.35

$2.86 MYR 11.35

8.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.39

$1.50 MYR 5.95

-26.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.22

$2.71 MYR 10.75

-4.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.04

$1.46 MYR 5.77

21.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.52

$1.14 MYR 4.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.66

$1.16 MYR 4.62

0.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.88

$0.92 MYR 3.64

89.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.11

$0.49 MYR 1.93

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.42

$4.33 MYR 17.18

-4.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.39 MYR 84.8

$19.73 MYR 78.2

8.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.34

$2.68 MYR 10.64

44.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 MYR 13.89

$3.36 MYR 13.31

4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.69 MYR 2.72

-63.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 46.14

$11.68 MYR 46.30

-0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.60

$0.73 MYR 2.91

24.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.53

$0.51 MYR 2.00

123.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 MYR 7.27

$4.59 MYR 18.19

-60.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.51 MYR 2.01

-3.92%

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

$45.0K MYR 178.4K

$33.9K MYR 134.3K

32.82%

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

$36.0K MYR 142.9K

$27.2K MYR 108.0K

32.27%

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

$41.77 MYR 166

$37.94 MYR 150

10.09%

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

$8.95 MYR 35.50

$10.01 MYR 39.71

-10.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.07 MYR 99.4

$25.40 MYR 101

-1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.40 MYR 117

$37.31 MYR 148

-21.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.60 MYR 38.08

$5.79 MYR 22.95

65.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 MYR 18.77

$4.87 MYR 19.30

-2.87%

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

$143 MYR 569

$235 MYR 934

-39.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,074 MYR 24.1K

$6,161 MYR 24.4K

-1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 MYR 261

$55.6 MYR 220

18.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.95 MYR 127

$29.12 MYR 115

9.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 340

$60.4 MYR 240

42.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 289

$51.9 MYR 206

40.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 MYR 1,093

$380 MYR 1,506

-27.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 798

$271 MYR 1,076

-25.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,243

$635 MYR 2,516

-10.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,536

$480 MYR 1,903

-19.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,159 MYR 8,560

$2,013 MYR 7,981

7.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,568 MYR 6,219

$962 MYR 3,814

63.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,201

$1,232 MYR 4,886

-54.96%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Rawang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Kuching and $380 in Rawang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 122% 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 $246 vs $255 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Rawang earns 122% less. 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: $276 in Kuching versus $380 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 $774 per month in Kuching versus $852 in Rawang – a 10% 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 10% less than in Rawang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.