Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Subang Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Subang Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Kuching versus $957 in Subang Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuching versus $1,362 in Subang Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Kuching versus $1,767 in Subang Jaya.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 19% less than in Subang Jaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 42% lower, Subang Jaya 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$3.60 MYR 14.73

-22.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.69 MYR 80.5

$19.22 MYR 78.6

2.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.84

$4.76 MYR 19.46

1.89%

Cappuccino

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$3.00 MYR 12.29

-15.00%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.79 MYR 3.24

-8.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.46 MYR 1.88

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.67

$4.75 MYR 19.45

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 15.09

$6.63 MYR 27.13

-44.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.86 MYR 7.59

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$0.96 MYR 3.91

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-29.86%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$2.07 MYR 8.46

5.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 38.48

$14.78 MYR 60.5

-36.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.24

$4.73 MYR 19.36

-21.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.72

$9.84 MYR 40.23

-16.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$2.89 MYR 11.81

5.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.34 MYR 5.50

-17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$2.62 MYR 10.73

-1.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.26

$1.51 MYR 6.18

17.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.23 MYR 5.05

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$1.41 MYR 5.76

-12.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$1.22 MYR 5.00

37.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.52 MYR 2.14

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$4.12 MYR 16.85

4.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 MYR 86.1

$18.99 MYR 77.7

10.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.73 MYR 11.17

36.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$2.94 MYR 12.02

18.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.25 MYR 1.03

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.45

$17.70 MYR 72.4

-34.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.97

$1.16 MYR 4.76

-16.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$0.49 MYR 2.02

134.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$4.60 MYR 18.83

-58.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.90

$0.46 MYR 1.87

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

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

31.35%

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

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

$33.1K MYR 135.5K

12.80%

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

$42.30 MYR 173

$45.46 MYR 186

-6.95%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.53

$11.55 MYR 47.23

-22.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 MYR 104

$30.28 MYR 124

-15.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.54 MYR 121

$23.82 MYR 97.4

24.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.01 MYR 40.95

$2.30 MYR 9.39

335.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.80 MYR 19.64

-2.50%

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

$144 MYR 587

$186 MYR 761

-22.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

$6,903 MYR 28.2K

-12.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$60.9 MYR 249

9.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.21 MYR 132

$18.95 MYR 77.5

69.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 MYR 354

$83.7 MYR 342

3.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$39.53 MYR 162

80.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,163

$495 MYR 2,022

-42.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 MYR 847

$333 MYR 1,361

-37.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 MYR 2,289

$630 MYR 2,576

-11.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,570

$478 MYR 1,957

-19.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,314

$2,362 MYR 9,662

-13.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 MYR 6,195

$1,833 MYR 7,499

-17.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,171

$914 MYR 3,738

-41.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

4.47

-4.47%

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

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Last update for Subang Jaya: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $495 in Subang Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Subang Jaya pays 72% 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: $20.00 in Kuching vs $19.00 in Subang Jaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $255, 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 Subang Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 72% lower in Subang Jaya. 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: $284 in Kuching versus $495 in Subang Jaya. 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 Subang Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $778 per month in Kuching versus $957 in Subang Jaya – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $778 in Kuching versus $957 in Subang Jaya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Subang Jaya. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Subang Jaya, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Subang Jaya 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 23% less than in Subang Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.