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: $778 in Kuching versus $918 in Setia Alam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuching versus $1,395 in Setia Alam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Kuching versus $1,872 in Setia Alam.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 15% less than in Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Setia Alam 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$4.58 MYR 18.74

-39.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 80.5

$23.80 MYR 97.4

-17.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.84

$4.68 MYR 19.15

3.63%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$2.98 MYR 12.20

-14.43%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.84 MYR 3.42

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.67

$4.33 MYR 17.70

-34.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 15.09

$6.02 MYR 24.63

-38.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.75 MYR 7.15

7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$0.70 MYR 2.86

62.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$0.98 MYR 4.02

3.06%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$1.65 MYR 6.75

32.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 38.48

$4.78 MYR 19.56

96.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.24

$3.99 MYR 16.33

-6.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.72

$9.52 MYR 38.95

-13.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$1.33 MYR 5.44

128.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.57 MYR 6.42

-29.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$1.34 MYR 5.46

93.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.26

$1.39 MYR 5.68

27.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.22 MYR 5.00

-9.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$1.33 MYR 5.42

-7.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$0.57 MYR 2.34

194.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.53 MYR 2.17

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$4.21 MYR 17.23

1.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 MYR 86.1

$19.11 MYR 78.2

10.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$3.21 MYR 13.14

15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$4.21 MYR 17.24

-17.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-65.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.45

$11.72 MYR 47.92

-1.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.97

$1.17 MYR 4.78

-17.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.10 MYR 4.51

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$4.62 MYR 18.89

-58.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.90

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-8.00%

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

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

$40.6K MYR 166.0K

13.94%

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

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

16.07%

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

$42.30 MYR 173

$59.1 MYR 242

-28.39%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.53

$10.73 MYR 43.87

-16.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 MYR 104

$25.60 MYR 105

-0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 MYR 121

$54.8 MYR 224

-46.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.01 MYR 40.95

$2.38 MYR 9.73

320.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$5.04 MYR 20.62

-7.14%

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

$144 MYR 587

$196 MYR 800

-26.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

$9,524 MYR 39.0K

-36.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$59.7 MYR 244

11.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 MYR 132

$24.82 MYR 102

29.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MYR 354

$86.1 MYR 352

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$53.8 MYR 220

32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,163

$495 MYR 2,026

-42.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 847

$305 MYR 1,247

-32.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MYR 2,289

$837 MYR 3,422

-33.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,570

$534 MYR 2,185

-28.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,314

$2,029 MYR 8,300

0.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 MYR 6,195

$1,175 MYR 4,806

28.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,171

$1,149 MYR 4,698

-53.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.12

3.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $495 in Setia Alam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Setia Alam pays 116% 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 $24.00 in Setia Alam. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $204, 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, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 116% 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: $284 in Kuching versus $495 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 $20.00 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 $778 per month in Kuching versus $918 in Setia Alam – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $778 in Kuching versus $918 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 18% less than in Setia Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.