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: $889 in Kuching versus $950 in Subang Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in Kuching versus $1,439 in Subang Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,852 in Kuching versus $1,927 in Subang Jaya.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 6% less than in Subang Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Subang Jaya 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.35

$3.73 MYR 15.15

-5.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.07 MYR 102

$19.69 MYR 80.1

27.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.05

$4.73 MYR 19.26

4.23%

Cappuccino

$3.35 MYR 13.64

$2.91 MYR 11.83

15.12%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.24

$0.74 MYR 2.99

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.37 MYR 1.49

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.63 MYR 18.84

$4.13 MYR 16.80

12.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.67

$4.58 MYR 18.61

32.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 MYR 9.47

$1.85 MYR 7.54

25.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$1.10 MYR 4.47

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.73 MYR 7.06

-29.48%

Eggs

$2.56 MYR 10.40

$2.15 MYR 8.76

19.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 MYR 46.74

$13.43 MYR 54.6

-14.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.04

$4.88 MYR 19.86

-9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.38

$8.99 MYR 36.58

7.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.69

$2.86 MYR 11.65

17.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.94 MYR 7.91

-31.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.96

$2.41 MYR 9.81

1.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.42 MYR 5.77

30.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.37

$1.08 MYR 4.38

45.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.13 MYR 4.58

1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MYR 6.46

$1.09 MYR 4.44

45.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.57 MYR 2.32

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.80 MYR 19.53

$4.49 MYR 18.25

6.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 MYR 86.2

$19.22 MYR 78.2

10.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 MYR 16.56

$2.91 MYR 11.82

39.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.63

$4.04 MYR 16.45

25.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 MYR 2.58

$0.89 MYR 3.61

-29.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.58 MYR 51.2

$12.40 MYR 50.5

1.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$0.39 MYR 1.58

223.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.85 MYR 36.00

$5.06 MYR 20.59

74.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.84 MYR 3.41

1.19%

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

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

$41.5K MYR 168.7K

2.40%

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

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

$35.8K MYR 145.4K

2.74%

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

$35.37 MYR 144

$38.14 MYR 155

-7.26%

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

$10.29 MYR 41.88

$9.90 MYR 40.28

3.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.25 MYR 98.7

$29.37 MYR 119

-17.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.72 MYR 125

$24.78 MYR 101

23.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 MYR 49.84

$2.51 MYR 10.23

388.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$5.57 MYR 22.67

-11.85%

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

$135 MYR 551

$298 MYR 1,211

-54.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

$10.9K MYR 44.3K

-33.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 MYR 258

$59.9 MYR 244

5.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.96 MYR 154

$35.23 MYR 143

7.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 MYR 369

$85.3 MYR 347

6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 272

$71.3 MYR 290

-6.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,510

$575 MYR 2,338

-35.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 MYR 977

$351 MYR 1,430

-31.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,635

$703 MYR 2,858

-7.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,845

$614 MYR 2,498

-26.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,112 MYR 8,593

$2,410 MYR 9,806

-12.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,552 MYR 6,313

$1,843 MYR 7,497

-15.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 MYR 2,229

$909 MYR 3,697

-39.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.2

4.05%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Last update for Subang Jaya: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Kuching and $575 in Subang Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Subang Jaya pays 66% 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: $25.00 in Kuching vs $20.00 in Subang Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $257 per month, with Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 66% 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: $371 in Kuching versus $575 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 $25.00 versus $20.00 in Subang Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $889 per month in Kuching versus $950 in Subang Jaya – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $889 in Kuching versus $950 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 7% less than in Subang Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.