Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Kuching versus $1,027 in Selangor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $1,483 in Selangor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,938 in Selangor.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 15% less than in Selangor, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.87

$4.22 MYR 17.23

-19.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.6

$19.63 MYR 80.2

24.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.20

$4.00 MYR 16.34

23.75%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.11

$2.19 MYR 8.96

46.58%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.87 MYR 3.55

-13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.46 MYR 1.89

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.45

$4.50 MYR 18.39

6.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 24.96

$5.10 MYR 20.80

19.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$1.91 MYR 7.81

24.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.18

$1.10 MYR 4.50

15.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.51 MYR 6.15

-22.52%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.19

$1.91 MYR 7.78

30.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.59

$15.50 MYR 63.3

-26.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.56

$4.82 MYR 19.70

-10.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.81

$9.82 MYR 40.10

-0.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.90

$3.35 MYR 13.67

-5.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.47

$1.84 MYR 7.51

-27.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.10

$2.44 MYR 9.96

1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.32

$1.58 MYR 6.47

13.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

$1.36 MYR 5.57

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.09 MYR 4.44

5.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.68

$1.14 MYR 4.65

43.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.54 MYR 2.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.33

$4.34 MYR 17.72

8.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.1

$19.04 MYR 77.7

17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.79

$3.38 MYR 13.80

21.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 20.95

$4.99 MYR 20.37

2.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.38

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-53.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.0

$12.26 MYR 50.1

1.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.82

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-24.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.26 MYR 5.14

-4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.48

$4.51 MYR 18.39

87.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.31

$0.66 MYR 2.70

22.73%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.0K

$42.4K MYR 173.1K

-2.95%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.0K

$35.0K MYR 142.9K

4.29%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$65.2 MYR 266

-45.29%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.73

$9.10 MYR 37.15

12.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$25.81 MYR 105

-2.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$40.42 MYR 165

-26.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.87

$7.22 MYR 29.49

69.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.61

$5.30 MYR 21.64

-4.72%

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

$136 MYR 553

$124 MYR 505

9.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.3K

$7,373 MYR 30.1K

-2.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 261

$73.2 MYR 299

-12.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$42.30 MYR 173

-12.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 365

$77.8 MYR 317

15.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 263

$81.6 MYR 333

-20.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,468

$504 MYR 2,059

-28.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 988

$346 MYR 1,414

-30.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,622

$881 MYR 3,597

-27.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,939

$485 MYR 1,979

-2.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,589

$1,559 MYR 6,364

34.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,233

$712 MYR 2,906

114.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,188

$1,045 MYR 4,266

-48.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

3.96

10.35%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Selangor: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Kuching and $504 in Selangor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Selangor pays 95% 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 $20.00 in Selangor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $272 per month, with Selangor 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 Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 95% lower in Selangor. 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 $504 in Selangor. 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 $20.00 in Selangor. 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 $1,027 in Selangor – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $870 in Kuching versus $1,027 in Selangor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Selangor. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Selangor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Selangor 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 18% less than in Selangor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.