Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Setia Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Setia Alam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Kuching versus $973 in Setia Alam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $1,443 in Setia Alam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,913 in Setia Alam.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 11% less than in Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Setia Alam 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.87

$5.06 MYR 20.64

-32.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.6

$24.14 MYR 98.5

1.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.20

$5.01 MYR 20.46

-1.20%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.11

$3.08 MYR 12.59

4.22%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.81 MYR 3.32

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.44 MYR 1.79

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.45

$4.46 MYR 18.21

6.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 24.96

$6.07 MYR 24.77

0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$1.87 MYR 7.61

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.18

$0.70 MYR 2.87

81.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.06 MYR 4.32

10.38%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.19

$1.81 MYR 7.39

37.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.59

$4.94 MYR 20.16

130.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.56

$4.23 MYR 17.28

1.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.81

$9.66 MYR 39.42

0.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.90

$1.34 MYR 5.46

135.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.47

$1.94 MYR 7.90

-30.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.10

$1.37 MYR 5.60

80.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.32

$1.50 MYR 6.11

19.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

$1.30 MYR 5.32

3.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.32 MYR 5.40

-12.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.68

$0.64 MYR 2.59

156.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.56 MYR 2.29

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.33

$4.45 MYR 18.18

6.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.1

$18.82 MYR 76.8

18.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.79

$3.45 MYR 14.08

19.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 20.95

$4.94 MYR 20.17

3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.38

$0.77 MYR 3.15

-24.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.0

$12.46 MYR 50.9

0.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.82

$1.25 MYR 5.11

-24.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.50 MYR 2.03

140.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.48

$5.04 MYR 20.57

67.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.31

$0.64 MYR 2.63

26.56%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.0K

$42.5K MYR 173.4K

-3.11%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.0K

$35.3K MYR 144.2K

3.37%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$61.6 MYR 251

-42.06%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.73

$9.48 MYR 38.70

7.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$26.31 MYR 107

-4.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$58.3 MYR 238

-48.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.87

$6.42 MYR 26.19

90.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.61

$5.34 MYR 21.80

-5.43%

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

$136 MYR 553

$177 MYR 722

-23.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.3K

$11.0K MYR 44.9K

-34.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 261

$70.7 MYR 289

-9.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$25.51 MYR 104

45.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 365

$89.2 MYR 364

0.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 263

$54.4 MYR 222

18.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,468

$515 MYR 2,104

-30.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 988

$322 MYR 1,314

-24.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,622

$860 MYR 3,513

-25.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,939

$545 MYR 2,223

-12.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,589

$2,025 MYR 8,266

3.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,233

$1,122 MYR 4,581

36.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,188

$1,132 MYR 4,621

-52.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.12

6.07%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Kuching and $515 in Setia Alam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Setia Alam pays 111% 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 $24.00 in Setia Alam. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $214, with Setia Alam 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 Setia Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 111% lower in Setia Alam. 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 $515 in Setia Alam. 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 $24.00 in Setia Alam. 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 $973 in Setia Alam – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $870 in Kuching versus $973 in Setia Alam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Setia Alam. 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 Setia Alam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Setia Alam 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 12% less than in Setia Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.