Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sibu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Sibu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Kuching versus $821 in Sibu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Kuching versus $1,237 in Sibu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Kuching versus $1,653 in Sibu.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 6% less than in Sibu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Sibu 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 MYR 11.41

$2.10 MYR 8.43

35.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 81.1

$8.41 MYR 33.74

140.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.63 MYR 18.56

$4.00 MYR 16.03

15.75%

Cappuccino

$2.44 MYR 9.79

$2.13 MYR 8.52

14.55%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.78

$0.60 MYR 2.39

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.29

$0.23 MYR 0.92

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.76 MYR 11.08

$2.84 MYR 11.40

-2.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 MYR 14.29

$4.95 MYR 19.86

-28.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.64

$1.39 MYR 5.56

37.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.50

$1.33 MYR 5.32

-15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.13

$1.20 MYR 4.81

-14.17%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.70

$1.55 MYR 6.22

40.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 MYR 39.06

$14.94 MYR 59.9

-34.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.90 MYR 15.63

$4.68 MYR 18.77

-16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 MYR 32.23

$5.93 MYR 23.78

35.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 MYR 12.49

$3.04 MYR 12.20

2.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.44

$1.21 MYR 4.83

-8.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.34

$1.87 MYR 7.50

37.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.12

$3.48 MYR 13.95

-48.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.57

$1.25 MYR 5.00

-8.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.71

$2.31 MYR 9.27

-49.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 MYR 6.96

$0.99 MYR 3.99

75.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.14

$1.20 MYR 4.83

-55.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.60

$3.94 MYR 15.81

5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.39 MYR 85.8

$18.02 MYR 72.3

18.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.52

$1.22 MYR 4.88

217.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 MYR 14.05

$4.09 MYR 16.41

-14.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.00

$0.73 MYR 2.92

-65.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 46.66

$11.84 MYR 47.46

-1.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.64

$1.20 MYR 4.80

-24.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.59

$0.98 MYR 3.93

16.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 MYR 7.36

$5.83 MYR 23.38

-68.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.50 MYR 1.99

-2.00%

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

$45.0K MYR 180.4K

$34.7K MYR 139.2K

29.58%

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

$36.0K MYR 144.5K

$31.4K MYR 125.7K

14.90%

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

$41.77 MYR 167

$43.93 MYR 176

-4.92%

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

$8.95 MYR 35.91

$5.12 MYR 20.53

74.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.07 MYR 101

$18.25 MYR 73.2

37.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.40 MYR 118

$23.20 MYR 93.1

26.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.60 MYR 38.51

$5.79 MYR 23.20

65.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.73 MYR 18.98

$3.09 MYR 12.40

53.07%

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

$143 MYR 575

$190 MYR 762

-24.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,074 MYR 24.4K

$6,990 MYR 28.0K

-13.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 MYR 264

$61.0 MYR 245

8.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.95 MYR 128

$27.04 MYR 108

18.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 344

$72.0 MYR 289

19.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 293

$50.2 MYR 201

45.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 MYR 1,105

$384 MYR 1,540

-28.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 807

$271 MYR 1,085

-25.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,269

$650 MYR 2,606

-12.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,553

$464 MYR 1,863

-16.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,159 MYR 8,658

$2,217 MYR 8,890

-2.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,568 MYR 6,289

$869 MYR 3,484

80.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,226

$511 MYR 2,048

8.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.25

0.47%

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

Last update for Kuching: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sibu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Kuching and $384 in Sibu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $8.00 in Sibu. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $249, with Kuching 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 Sibu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kuching pays 9% 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: $276 in Kuching versus $384 in Sibu. 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 $8.00 in Sibu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $774 per month in Kuching versus $821 in Sibu – a 6% 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 Sibu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Sibu 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 6% less than in Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.