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: $804 in Kuching versus $841 in Sentul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Kuching versus $1,264 in Sentul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,642 in Kuching versus $1,687 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 40% lower, Sentul 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.08

$3.56 MYR 14.08

-21.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.00 MYR 79.0

$18.80 MYR 74.3

6.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 MYR 18.49

$4.73 MYR 18.69

-1.06%

Cappuccino

$2.45 MYR 9.69

$2.83 MYR 11.20

-13.43%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.94

$0.68 MYR 2.68

10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.27

$0.45 MYR 1.76

-28.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.43

$3.61 MYR 14.27

-19.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MYR 14.33

$5.16 MYR 20.39

-29.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.51

$1.80 MYR 7.12

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.00 MYR 3.97

12.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.03

$1.81 MYR 7.14

-43.65%

Eggs

$2.26 MYR 8.91

$1.81 MYR 7.15

24.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 MYR 37.72

$10.48 MYR 41.41

-8.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 14.72

$3.37 MYR 13.33

10.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 MYR 31.56

$8.22 MYR 32.47

-2.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 MYR 12.18

$2.67 MYR 10.54

15.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.54

$1.45 MYR 5.71

-20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.36

$2.49 MYR 9.82

5.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 MYR 7.15

$1.25 MYR 4.95

44.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.40

$1.13 MYR 4.46

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$1.34 MYR 5.30

-7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.88

$0.87 MYR 3.45

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.60 MYR 2.37

-11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 16.67

$4.15 MYR 16.39

1.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.58 MYR 85.3

$14.57 MYR 57.5

48.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.18

$2.75 MYR 10.88

39.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 13.71

$2.90 MYR 11.44

19.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.68 MYR 2.68

-63.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MYR 46.78

$11.83 MYR 46.72

0.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.01 MYR 3.99

-2.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.38

$0.98 MYR 3.88

13.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.60

$9.42 MYR 37.19

-79.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.46 MYR 1.82

2.17%

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

$46.1K MYR 182.0K

$31.8K MYR 125.5K

45.05%

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

$36.3K MYR 143.3K

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

29.14%

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

$40.86 MYR 161

$40.35 MYR 159

1.26%

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

$9.15 MYR 36.13

$9.11 MYR 35.97

0.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.01 MYR 98.8

$23.66 MYR 93.5

5.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 MYR 116

$37.07 MYR 146

-20.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 MYR 39.00

$5.76 MYR 22.73

71.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MYR 18.65

$4.99 MYR 19.69

-5.41%

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

$145 MYR 575

$190 MYR 749

-23.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,146 MYR 24.3K

$6,898 MYR 27.2K

-10.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 260

$65.7 MYR 260

0.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.81 MYR 126

$27.85 MYR 110

14.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 MYR 340

$59.0 MYR 233

45.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 MYR 282

$48.36 MYR 191

47.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,123

$387 MYR 1,529

-26.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 800

$266 MYR 1,051

-23.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,237

$632 MYR 2,496

-10.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,494

$473 MYR 1,867

-19.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

$1,791 MYR 7,076

16.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

$920 MYR 3,634

69.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 MYR 2,186

$922 MYR 3,643

-39.98%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Sentul: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $387 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sentul pays 67% 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 $245 vs $219 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sentul earns 67% 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: $284 in Kuching versus $387 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 $804 per month in Kuching versus $841 in Sentul – a 5% 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 5% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.