Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sentul Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sentul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Kuching versus $815 in Sentul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,218 in Kuching versus $1,239 in Sentul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Kuching versus $1,663 in Sentul.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 2% less than in Sentul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Sentul 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 MYR 11.19

$3.49 MYR 14.15

-20.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.32 MYR 82.4

$18.60 MYR 75.4

9.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.51

$4.84 MYR 19.61

-0.62%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.26

$2.78 MYR 11.28

-8.99%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.07

$0.73 MYR 2.98

4.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.19

$0.46 MYR 1.86

-36.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$3.61 MYR 14.62

-22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 MYR 14.63

$5.17 MYR 20.96

-30.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$1.81 MYR 7.35

5.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$0.94 MYR 3.83

15.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$1.73 MYR 7.00

-38.73%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.73

$1.82 MYR 7.38

18.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MYR 38.01

$10.76 MYR 43.65

-12.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 MYR 15.36

$3.44 MYR 13.95

10.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 MYR 32.49

$8.19 MYR 33.20

-2.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.14

$2.77 MYR 11.24

7.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.63

$1.50 MYR 6.09

-24.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.48

$2.55 MYR 10.36

1.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$1.22 MYR 4.94

47.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.50

$1.19 MYR 4.84

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$1.38 MYR 5.58

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.87

$0.90 MYR 3.63

87.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.63 MYR 2.55

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.00

$4.27 MYR 17.32

-1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.36 MYR 86.6

$14.40 MYR 58.4

48.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.69

$2.70 MYR 10.94

43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.82

$3.00 MYR 12.15

13.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.69 MYR 2.79

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.32

$11.74 MYR 47.60

1.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.76

$0.98 MYR 3.98

-5.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$0.99 MYR 4.00

12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$9.43 MYR 38.25

-80.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.46 MYR 1.85

8.70%

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

$44.6K MYR 180.8K

$31.5K MYR 127.9K

41.29%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.3K

$27.9K MYR 113.0K

33.89%

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

$41.24 MYR 167

$40.58 MYR 165

1.63%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.16

$8.89 MYR 36.05

0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 103

$23.14 MYR 93.9

9.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 MYR 120

$37.26 MYR 151

-20.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.77 MYR 39.62

$5.97 MYR 24.21

63.65%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MYR 18.77

$4.86 MYR 19.70

-4.73%

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

$141 MYR 572

$185 MYR 751

-23.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

$6,840 MYR 27.7K

-11.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 267

$64.1 MYR 260

2.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.99 MYR 130

$28.43 MYR 115

12.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 348

$58.2 MYR 236

47.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$47.93 MYR 194

49.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MYR 1,156

$383 MYR 1,552

-25.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 MYR 830

$268 MYR 1,085

-23.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MYR 2,255

$645 MYR 2,616

-13.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,566

$475 MYR 1,924

-18.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,692

$2,219 MYR 8,998

-3.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,224

$982 MYR 3,982

56.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,239

$877 MYR 3,557

-37.06%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Sentul: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kuching and $383 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sentul pays 59% 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 $19.00 in Sentul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $221 per month, with Sentul 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 Sentul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sentul earns 59% 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: $285 in Kuching versus $383 in Sentul. 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 Sentul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Kuching versus $815 in Sentul – a 2% 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 Sentul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Sentul 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 2% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.