Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Seri Iskandar Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Seri Iskandar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Kuching versus $670 in Seri Iskandar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,218 in Kuching versus $878 in Seri Iskandar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Kuching versus $1,087 in Seri Iskandar.

Living in Kuching is roughly 20% more expensive than Seri Iskandar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 40% lower, Seri Iskandar 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 MYR 11.20

$2.74 MYR 11.12

0.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.32 MYR 82.5

$27.95 MYR 113

-27.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.53

$4.35 MYR 17.67

10.57%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.27

$0.91 MYR 3.69

178.02%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.07

$0.51 MYR 2.07

49.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.20

$0.25 MYR 1.00

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 MYR 11.28

$2.86 MYR 11.60

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 MYR 14.64

$3.63 MYR 14.74

-0.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.77

$1.49 MYR 6.05

28.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$0.97 MYR 3.93

12.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$0.45 MYR 1.82

135.56%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.73

$1.94 MYR 7.87

10.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MYR 38.03

$5.34 MYR 21.65

75.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 MYR 15.37

$1.91 MYR 7.76

98.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 MYR 32.51

$4.28 MYR 17.35

87.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.14

$2.09 MYR 8.47

43.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.63

$1.63 MYR 6.62

-30.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.49

$1.85 MYR 7.52

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$0.91 MYR 3.71

97.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$0.57 MYR 2.32

94.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$0.99 MYR 4.00

25.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.87

$0.89 MYR 3.63

89.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.61 MYR 2.48

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.02

$4.18 MYR 16.97

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.36 MYR 86.7

$7.29 MYR 29.57

193.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.70

$2.31 MYR 9.36

67.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.83

$3.52 MYR 14.28

-3.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$1.08 MYR 4.36

-78.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.36

$12.01 MYR 48.72

-0.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$0.90 MYR 3.64

3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$1.15 MYR 4.67

-3.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$4.83 MYR 19.62

-61.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$44.6K MYR 180.9K

$19.1K MYR 77.5K

133.52%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.5K

$18.7K MYR 75.8K

99.77%

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

$41.24 MYR 167

$64.9 MYR 263

-36.47%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.19

$9.35 MYR 37.93

-4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 103

$16.23 MYR 65.8

56.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 MYR 120

$12.98 MYR 52.7

127.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.77 MYR 39.65

$5.92 MYR 24.03

65.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MYR 18.78

$3.56 MYR 14.43

30.06%

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

$141 MYR 573

$165 MYR 670

-14.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

$9,565 MYR 38.8K

-36.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 267

$16.31 MYR 66.2

303.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.99 MYR 130

$8.03 MYR 32.57

298.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 349

$58.8 MYR 239

46.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$35.83 MYR 145

99.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MYR 1,157

$382 MYR 1,549

-25.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 MYR 831

$273 MYR 1,110

-25.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MYR 2,256

$652 MYR 2,645

-14.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,567

$151 MYR 613

155.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,699

$1,679 MYR 6,812

27.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,229

$873 MYR 3,541

75.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,240

$371 MYR 1,507

48.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

113.50%

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

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Last update for Seri Iskandar: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kuching and $382 in Seri Iskandar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 49% 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 $28.00 in Seri Iskandar. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $153, with Seri Iskandar cheaper for home cooking.

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 Seri Iskandar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seri Iskandar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kuching pays 49% 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: $285 in Kuching versus $382 in Seri Iskandar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seri Iskandar – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $20.00 in Kuching. 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 $670 in Seri Iskandar – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Seri Iskandar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Kuching and Seri Iskandar 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 Seri Iskandar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.