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: $802 in Kuching versus $807 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,218 in Kuching versus $1,223 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Kuching versus $1,639 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

$2.76 MYR 11.20

$3.53 MYR 14.31

-21.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.32 MYR 82.5

$19.18 MYR 77.8

5.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.53

$4.83 MYR 19.59

-0.41%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.27

$2.97 MYR 12.06

-14.81%

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

$0.76 MYR 3.07

$0.69 MYR 2.79

10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.20

$0.39 MYR 1.59

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 MYR 11.28

$3.61 MYR 14.66

-22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 MYR 14.64

$5.10 MYR 20.70

-29.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.77

$1.83 MYR 7.42

4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$1.01 MYR 4.10

7.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$1.25 MYR 5.08

-15.20%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.73

$1.80 MYR 7.29

19.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MYR 38.03

$10.82 MYR 43.91

-13.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 MYR 15.37

$3.44 MYR 13.97

10.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 MYR 32.51

$8.31 MYR 33.72

-3.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.14

$2.69 MYR 10.91

11.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.63

$1.51 MYR 6.15

-24.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.49

$2.58 MYR 10.45

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$1.24 MYR 5.04

45.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.18 MYR 4.81

-5.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.01

$1.37 MYR 5.57

-9.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.87

$0.94 MYR 3.81

79.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$0.52 MYR 2.11

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.02

$4.17 MYR 16.90

0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.36 MYR 86.7

$14.43 MYR 58.6

48.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.70

$2.78 MYR 11.26

39.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.83

$2.97 MYR 12.07

14.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-66.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.36

$11.65 MYR 47.28

2.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$0.98 MYR 3.99

-5.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$0.98 MYR 3.98

13.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$9.51 MYR 38.60

-80.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.49 MYR 2.01

2.04%

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

$44.6K MYR 180.9K

$31.5K MYR 128.0K

41.33%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.5K

$27.8K MYR 112.7K

34.40%

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

$41.24 MYR 167

$41.22 MYR 167

0.05%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.19

$8.87 MYR 35.98

0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 103

$22.56 MYR 91.6

12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.51 MYR 120

$36.97 MYR 150

-20.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.77 MYR 39.65

$5.99 MYR 24.30

63.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MYR 18.78

$4.88 MYR 19.82

-5.12%

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

$141 MYR 573

$189 MYR 766

-25.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

$6,831 MYR 27.7K

-11.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 MYR 267

$48.40 MYR 196

36.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.99 MYR 130

$18.80 MYR 76.3

70.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 MYR 349

$59.5 MYR 241

44.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$47.35 MYR 192

50.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 MYR 1,157

$387 MYR 1,571

-26.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 MYR 831

$267 MYR 1,082

-23.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 MYR 2,256

$638 MYR 2,590

-12.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,567

$470 MYR 1,908

-17.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 MYR 8,699

$1,940 MYR 7,872

10.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,229

$1,095 MYR 4,443

40.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,240

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Skudai: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Kuching and $387 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Kuching vs $19.00 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 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 $1,203 in Kuching and $1,211 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: $285 in Kuching versus $387 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 $802 per month in Kuching versus $807 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.