Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sarawak Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sarawak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $799 in Kuching versus $909 in Sarawak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Kuching versus $1,312 in Sarawak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Kuching versus $1,714 in Sarawak.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 12% less than in Sarawak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Sarawak 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.42

$3.46 MYR 13.65

-16.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 79.9

$18.70 MYR 73.9

8.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.81

$5.41 MYR 21.37

-12.01%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.15

$2.70 MYR 10.66

-4.81%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.81

$0.79 MYR 3.11

-10.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.17

$0.39 MYR 1.55

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 10.87

$7.72 MYR 30.51

-64.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 14.13

$8.13 MYR 32.13

-55.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 MYR 7.68

$1.79 MYR 7.07

8.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.44

$0.99 MYR 3.92

13.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.21

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-13.01%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.61

$2.04 MYR 8.08

6.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 MYR 36.93

$15.06 MYR 59.5

-37.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 MYR 14.76

$2.65 MYR 10.48

41.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.69

$9.60 MYR 37.93

-16.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 MYR 12.12

$2.99 MYR 11.81

2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.37

$1.46 MYR 5.75

-23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 9.99

$2.50 MYR 9.88

1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 6.98

$1.43 MYR 5.65

23.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.22 MYR 4.82

-5.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.72

$1.28 MYR 5.04

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MYR 6.60

$1.04 MYR 4.09

60.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.63 MYR 2.47

-17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$4.16 MYR 16.41

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.61 MYR 85.4

$16.22 MYR 64.1

33.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.15

$2.86 MYR 11.28

34.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 13.87

$2.97 MYR 11.74

18.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.90

$0.73 MYR 2.87

-68.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 45.77

$11.56 MYR 45.65

0.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.20 MYR 4.75

-18.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.32

$0.99 MYR 3.90

10.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$5.91 MYR 23.35

-68.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.98

-6.00%

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

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

$35.2K MYR 139.1K

26.92%

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

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

$31.7K MYR 125.3K

17.55%

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

$42.29 MYR 167

$42.70 MYR 169

-0.96%

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

$8.83 MYR 34.86

$8.86 MYR 34.99

-0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 MYR 100

$28.95 MYR 114

-12.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.59 MYR 117

$37.04 MYR 146

-20.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.61 MYR 37.95

$6.03 MYR 23.82

59.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MYR 18.46

$4.90 MYR 19.34

-4.69%

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

$141 MYR 559

$187 MYR 737

-24.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

$6,975 MYR 27.6K

-12.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 MYR 257

$35.88 MYR 142

81.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.44 MYR 128

$39.15 MYR 155

-17.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 MYR 342

$78.7 MYR 311

10.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 288

$57.5 MYR 227

27.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,103

$326 MYR 1,289

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 802

$270 MYR 1,065

-24.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,227

$500 MYR 1,977

12.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,548

$356 MYR 1,405

10.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,160 MYR 8,534

$1,754 MYR 6,928

23.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

$886 MYR 3,498

75.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,192

$429 MYR 1,696

29.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.07

4.91%

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

Last update for Kuching: April 19, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kuching and $326 in Sarawak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20 in Kuching vs $19 in Sarawak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $240 per month, with Sarawak 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 Sarawak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kuching pays 29% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Kuching versus $326 in Sarawak. 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 $19.00 in Sarawak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $799 per month in Kuching versus $909 in Sarawak – a 14% 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 Sarawak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Sarawak 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 14% less than in Sarawak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.