Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Skudai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Skudai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $799 in Kuching versus $809 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Kuching versus $1,238 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Kuching versus $1,667 in Skudai.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 1% less than in Skudai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.89 MYR 11.42

$3.47 MYR 13.71

-16.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.23 MYR 79.9

$18.65 MYR 73.7

8.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.81

$4.66 MYR 18.40

2.15%

Cappuccino

$2.57 MYR 10.15

$2.98 MYR 11.77

-13.76%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.81

$0.73 MYR 2.89

-2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.17

$0.37 MYR 1.46

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 10.87

$3.50 MYR 13.84

-21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 14.13

$4.92 MYR 19.43

-27.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 MYR 7.68

$1.87 MYR 7.40

3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.44

$0.98 MYR 3.88

14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.21

$1.25 MYR 4.95

-14.40%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.61

$1.88 MYR 7.41

15.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 MYR 36.93

$10.54 MYR 41.65

-11.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.74 MYR 14.76

$3.55 MYR 14.01

5.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 MYR 31.69

$8.36 MYR 33.02

-4.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 MYR 12.12

$2.77 MYR 10.96

10.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.37

$1.51 MYR 5.97

-26.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 9.99

$2.50 MYR 9.87

1.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 6.98

$1.20 MYR 4.74

47.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.19 MYR 4.71

-3.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.72

$1.35 MYR 5.32

-11.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 MYR 6.60

$0.89 MYR 3.50

87.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.51 MYR 2.03

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$4.32 MYR 17.08

-3.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.61 MYR 85.4

$14.38 MYR 56.8

50.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.15

$2.73 MYR 10.79

40.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 13.87

$2.94 MYR 11.61

19.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.90

$0.74 MYR 2.91

-68.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 45.77

$11.95 MYR 47.21

-3.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.01 MYR 3.99

-2.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.32

$0.99 MYR 3.93

10.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$9.51 MYR 37.55

-80.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.47 MYR 1.85

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

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

$31.5K MYR 124.4K

41.85%

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

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

$27.6K MYR 109.1K

34.95%

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

$42.29 MYR 167

$40.65 MYR 161

4.03%

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

$8.83 MYR 34.86

$9.35 MYR 36.95

-5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 MYR 100

$22.69 MYR 89.6

12.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.59 MYR 117

$36.95 MYR 146

-19.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.61 MYR 37.95

$5.99 MYR 23.68

60.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 MYR 18.46

$5.08 MYR 20.05

-8.07%

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

$141 MYR 559

$190 MYR 750

-25.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

$6,814 MYR 26.9K

-10.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 MYR 257

$49.26 MYR 195

32.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.44 MYR 128

$18.59 MYR 73.5

74.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 MYR 342

$60.1 MYR 237

44.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.0 MYR 288

$47.05 MYR 186

55.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,103

$386 MYR 1,527

-27.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 MYR 802

$271 MYR 1,071

-25.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,227

$635 MYR 2,507

-11.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,548

$473 MYR 1,868

-17.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,160 MYR 8,534

$1,753 MYR 6,923

23.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,145

$880 MYR 3,477

76.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,192

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.07

4.91%

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

Last update for Kuching: April 19, 2026

Last update for Skudai: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kuching and $386 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20 in Kuching vs $19 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $219 per month, with Skudai 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 Skudai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,198 in Kuching and $1,213 in Skudai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Kuching versus $386 in Skudai. 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 $19.00 in Skudai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $799 per month in Kuching versus $809 in Skudai – a 1% 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 Skudai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Skudai 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 1% less than in Skudai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.