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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $899 in Kuching versus $958 in Shah Alam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,388 in Kuching versus $1,436 in Shah Alam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,877 in Kuching versus $1,913 in Shah Alam.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 6% less than in Shah Alam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 35% lower, Shah Alam 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 MYR 13.87

$3.82 MYR 15.42

-9.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.31 MYR 98.1

$19.79 MYR 79.8

22.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 MYR 20.36

$4.15 MYR 16.74

21.69%

Cappuccino

$3.23 MYR 13.01

$2.94 MYR 11.87

9.86%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.08

$0.77 MYR 3.10

-1.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.54

$0.38 MYR 1.53

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.83 MYR 19.49

$3.43 MYR 13.84

40.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.32 MYR 25.49

$4.59 MYR 18.51

37.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 MYR 8.96

$1.87 MYR 7.56

18.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 MYR 4.78

$1.07 MYR 4.32

11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.89

$1.44 MYR 5.80

-15.97%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.34

$2.13 MYR 8.59

20.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 MYR 45.29

$13.27 MYR 53.5

-15.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.23

$4.33 MYR 17.48

4.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.03 MYR 40.45

$9.79 MYR 39.51

2.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 MYR 13.42

$3.44 MYR 13.88

-3.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.33

$1.70 MYR 6.87

-22.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.08

$2.76 MYR 11.15

-9.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.54

$1.83 MYR 7.38

2.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.14

$1.25 MYR 5.05

21.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.90

$2.07 MYR 8.36

-41.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.61

$1.47 MYR 5.92

11.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.24

$0.57 MYR 2.31

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 MYR 19.30

$4.20 MYR 16.96

13.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.25 MYR 85.7

$19.08 MYR 77.0

11.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.23 MYR 17.06

$2.79 MYR 11.24

51.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.15 MYR 20.77

$4.47 MYR 18.04

15.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MYR 2.59

$0.77 MYR 3.09

-16.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 50.7

$16.34 MYR 65.9

-23.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 MYR 4.18

$1.28 MYR 5.15

-18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 MYR 4.92

$0.39 MYR 1.57

212.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 35.71

$7.56 MYR 30.50

17.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 MYR 3.46

$0.75 MYR 3.02

14.67%

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

$43.0K MYR 173.4K

$42.1K MYR 170.0K

2.01%

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

$37.3K MYR 150.3K

$35.5K MYR 143.3K

4.92%

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

$36.51 MYR 147

$38.25 MYR 154

-4.55%

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

$10.11 MYR 40.79

$9.86 MYR 39.79

2.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.41 MYR 98.5

$29.96 MYR 121

-18.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.47 MYR 123

$39.58 MYR 160

-23.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.55 MYR 50.6

$5.02 MYR 20.25

150.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 MYR 20.26

$6.68 MYR 26.94

-24.85%

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

$136 MYR 550

$202 MYR 814

-32.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,032 MYR 28.4K

$4,569 MYR 18.4K

53.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 MYR 254

$58.4 MYR 236

7.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.04 MYR 153

$39.95 MYR 161

-4.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 MYR 364

$68.5 MYR 276

31.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.1 MYR 263

$70.8 MYR 286

-8.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,490

$350 MYR 1,412

5.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 MYR 966

$311 MYR 1,255

-23.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,599

$567 MYR 2,288

13.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 MYR 1,854

$555 MYR 2,241

-17.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,094 MYR 8,447

$1,489 MYR 6,007

40.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,534 MYR 6,188

$1,181 MYR 4,764

29.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,209

$1,238 MYR 4,994

-55.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.24

3.07%

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

Last update for Kuching: August 30, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $369 in Kuching and $350 in Shah Alam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shah Alam pays 126% 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $264 per month, with Shah Alam 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 Shah Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 126% lower in Shah 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: $369 in Kuching versus $350 in Shah 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $899 per month in Kuching versus $958 in Shah Alam – a 7% 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 Shah Alam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Shah 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 7% less than in Shah Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.