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: $889 in Kuching versus $924 in Sentul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Kuching versus $1,348 in Sentul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Kuching versus $1,771 in Sentul.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 4% less than in Sentul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Sentul 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.35

$3.70 MYR 15.04

-4.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.07 MYR 102

$22.16 MYR 90.1

13.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

$4.97 MYR 20.22

-0.80%

Cappuccino

$3.35 MYR 13.64

$2.99 MYR 12.16

12.04%

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

$0.48 MYR 1.94

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.63 MYR 18.84

$3.36 MYR 13.67

37.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.67

$5.77 MYR 23.46

5.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 MYR 9.47

$1.75 MYR 7.14

33.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.09 MYR 4.42

10.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.46 MYR 5.93

-16.44%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.40

$1.77 MYR 7.19

44.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 MYR 46.74

$9.79 MYR 39.81

17.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.04

$3.28 MYR 13.35

35.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.38

$9.90 MYR 40.27

-2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.69

$3.37 MYR 13.70

-0.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.76 MYR 7.17

-24.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.79 MYR 11.35

-12.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.65 MYR 6.69

12.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.37

$1.44 MYR 5.85

9.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.66 MYR 6.76

-30.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MYR 6.46

$1.38 MYR 5.63

15.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.55 MYR 2.23

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MYR 19.53

$4.41 MYR 17.96

8.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 MYR 86.2

$14.37 MYR 58.5

47.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 MYR 16.56

$2.81 MYR 11.42

44.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.63

$3.14 MYR 12.76

61.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MYR 2.58

$0.71 MYR 2.90

-11.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 51.2

$12.16 MYR 49.48

3.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$1.23 MYR 4.99

-21.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$0.36 MYR 1.46

250.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 36.00

$9.03 MYR 36.73

-1.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.78 MYR 3.18

8.97%

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

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

$43.0K MYR 175.1K

-1.31%

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

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

$33.7K MYR 137.0K

9.08%

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

$35.37 MYR 144

$49.11 MYR 200

-27.98%

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

$10.29 MYR 41.88

$8.28 MYR 33.70

24.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 MYR 98.7

$26.87 MYR 109

-9.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.72 MYR 125

$41.18 MYR 168

-25.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 MYR 49.84

$6.80 MYR 27.68

80.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$5.04 MYR 20.51

-2.58%

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

$135 MYR 551

$163 MYR 662

-16.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

$4,578 MYR 18.6K

57.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MYR 258

$52.1 MYR 212

21.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 MYR 154

$16.80 MYR 68.3

125.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 MYR 369

$79.8 MYR 324

13.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 272

$40.83 MYR 166

63.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,510

$426 MYR 1,733

-12.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 MYR 977

$330 MYR 1,343

-27.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,635

$696 MYR 2,830

-6.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,845

$495 MYR 2,013

-8.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 MYR 8,593

$2,052 MYR 8,350

2.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 MYR 6,313

$1,126 MYR 4,581

37.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,229

$897 MYR 3,650

-38.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.06

7.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Kuching and $426 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sentul pays 64% 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: $25.00 in Kuching vs $22.00 in Sentul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $232 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 Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Sentul. 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 $426 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 $25.00 versus $22.00 in Sentul. 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 $924 in Sentul – a 4% 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 4% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.