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: $777 in Kuching versus $802 in Sibu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,228 in Kuching versus $1,227 in Sibu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,678 in Kuching versus $1,652 in Sibu.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 3% less than in Sibu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Sibu 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.43

$2.16 MYR 8.84

29.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.41 MYR 83.4

$8.61 MYR 35.20

137.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.77

$4.18 MYR 17.10

9.81%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.53

$2.08 MYR 8.50

24.04%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.63 MYR 2.59

12.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.23 MYR 0.93

30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$2.85 MYR 11.65

1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.29

$5.08 MYR 20.77

-26.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.72

$1.39 MYR 5.67

35.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$1.35 MYR 5.53

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.31

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-8.70%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.95

$1.53 MYR 6.24

43.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.17

$14.98 MYR 61.2

-36.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 MYR 15.71

$4.67 MYR 19.07

-17.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 33.60

$5.98 MYR 24.42

37.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.19

$2.99 MYR 12.20

-0.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.16 MYR 4.75

-0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.71

$1.93 MYR 7.87

35.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.24

$3.50 MYR 14.29

-49.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-3.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.08

$2.33 MYR 9.54

-46.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 MYR 6.98

$1.05 MYR 4.28

62.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-56.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.12

$4.06 MYR 16.58

3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.46 MYR 83.6

$19.77 MYR 80.8

3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.86

$1.22 MYR 5.00

218.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.93

$3.90 MYR 15.96

-12.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.72 MYR 2.96

-68.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 48.21

$11.95 MYR 48.84

-1.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.94

$1.21 MYR 4.94

-20.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$0.99 MYR 4.06

14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 MYR 7.78

$5.80 MYR 23.70

-67.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.47 MYR 1.90

6.38%

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

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

$35.5K MYR 145.1K

29.30%

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

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

$31.8K MYR 129.9K

17.22%

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

$41.82 MYR 171

$42.92 MYR 175

-2.56%

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

$9.22 MYR 37.70

$5.16 MYR 21.11

78.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.53 MYR 104

$18.36 MYR 75.1

39.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 MYR 122

$22.98 MYR 93.9

29.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 MYR 40.08

$5.80 MYR 23.69

69.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 MYR 18.94

$3.22 MYR 13.17

44.10%

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

$143 MYR 586

$185 MYR 756

-22.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

$6,983 MYR 28.5K

-11.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$60.4 MYR 247

9.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.34 MYR 128

$27.03 MYR 110

15.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 358

$71.7 MYR 293

22.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MYR 293

$49.94 MYR 204

43.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,160

$392 MYR 1,603

-27.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 820

$269 MYR 1,097

-25.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MYR 2,326

$653 MYR 2,670

-12.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,583

$465 MYR 1,899

-16.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 MYR 8,535

$2,325 MYR 9,502

-10.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 MYR 6,172

$1,259 MYR 5,145

19.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$530 MYR 2,167

$489 MYR 1,998

8.45%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sibu: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $392 in Sibu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 8% 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 $9.00 in Sibu. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $252, 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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Kuching, 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: $284 in Kuching versus $392 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 $9.00 in Sibu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Kuching versus $802 in Sibu – a 3% 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 3% less than in Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.