Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Ulu Tiram Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuching and Ulu Tiram

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Kuching versus $939 in Ulu Tiram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Kuching versus $1,364 in Ulu Tiram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,926 in Kuching versus $1,789 in Ulu Tiram.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 7% less than in Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 36% lower, Ulu Tiram 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 MYR 13.90

$3.74 MYR 15.32

-9.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.39 MYR 99.8

$21.40 MYR 87.6

13.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.25

$4.90 MYR 20.06

1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.21 MYR 13.14

$2.97 MYR 12.17

8.08%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.09

$0.78 MYR 3.18

-3.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 MYR 19.50

$4.55 MYR 18.62

4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 25.02

$6.29 MYR 25.75

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 MYR 9.75

$1.70 MYR 6.97

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 MYR 5.19

$1.03 MYR 4.22

23.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.78

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-18.75%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.21

$1.75 MYR 7.16

42.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 MYR 46.71

$9.70 MYR 39.69

17.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$4.22 MYR 17.25

1.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 MYR 39.91

$9.63 MYR 39.40

1.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.93

$3.34 MYR 13.67

-5.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.48

$1.75 MYR 7.15

-23.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.12

$2.66 MYR 10.88

-7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.34

$1.62 MYR 6.62

10.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.50

$1.46 MYR 5.98

-8.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.68 MYR 6.89

-31.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.70

$1.38 MYR 5.65

18.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.23

$0.55 MYR 2.26

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 MYR 19.38

$4.35 MYR 17.81

8.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.31 MYR 91.3

$16.96 MYR 69.4

31.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.11 MYR 16.84

$2.97 MYR 12.15

38.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 MYR 21.01

$3.11 MYR 12.73

64.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 MYR 2.39

$0.69 MYR 2.81

-15.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.49 MYR 51.1

$12.25 MYR 50.2

1.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 MYR 3.83

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-24.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$0.36 MYR 1.46

233.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 MYR 34.56

$9.32 MYR 38.15

-9.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.32

$0.78 MYR 3.18

3.85%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.5K

$41.2K MYR 168.6K

-0.07%

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

$36.5K MYR 149.4K

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

4.22%

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

$35.66 MYR 146

$53.0 MYR 217

-32.67%

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

$10.22 MYR 41.83

$8.22 MYR 33.65

24.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.15 MYR 103

$28.97 MYR 119

-13.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.90 MYR 122

$40.66 MYR 166

-26.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 MYR 49.99

$5.89 MYR 24.10

107.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.67

$4.89 MYR 20.03

3.27%

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

$136 MYR 555

$166 MYR 680

-18.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 MYR 29.4K

$4,502 MYR 18.4K

59.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 MYR 262

$66.6 MYR 273

-4.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.13 MYR 152

$17.16 MYR 70.2

116.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 MYR 366

$77.4 MYR 317

15.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 264

$48.28 MYR 198

33.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,472

$395 MYR 1,617

-8.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 MYR 991

$299 MYR 1,224

-19.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,629

$686 MYR 2,808

-6.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 MYR 1,944

$487 MYR 1,995

-2.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,104 MYR 8,611

$2,014 MYR 8,244

4.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,527 MYR 6,249

$1,143 MYR 4,678

33.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 MYR 2,194

$853 MYR 3,491

-37.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

4.06

7.64%

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

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Kuching and $395 in Ulu Tiram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 59% 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: $24.00 in Kuching vs $21.00 in Ulu Tiram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $240 per month, with Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Ulu Tiram. 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: $360 in Kuching versus $395 in Ulu Tiram. 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 $24.00 versus $21.00 in Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $870 per month in Kuching versus $939 in Ulu Tiram – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $870 in Kuching versus $939 in Ulu Tiram, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Ulu Tiram. 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 Ulu Tiram, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kuching and Ulu Tiram 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 8% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.