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: $790 in Kuching versus $863 in Ulu Tiram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,208 in Kuching versus $1,294 in Ulu Tiram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,626 in Kuching versus $1,726 in Ulu Tiram.

Living in Kuching costs roughly 9% less than in Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuching 41% lower, Ulu Tiram 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 MYR 11.32

$3.45 MYR 14.02

-19.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.16 MYR 81.9

$19.01 MYR 77.3

6.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.60

$4.80 MYR 19.51

-4.58%

Cappuccino

$2.53 MYR 10.29

$2.68 MYR 10.91

-5.60%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.05

$0.73 MYR 2.97

2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 11.20

$4.14 MYR 16.83

-33.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 MYR 14.93

$6.50 MYR 26.41

-43.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.75

$1.80 MYR 7.31

6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$0.95 MYR 3.86

14.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.33

$1.24 MYR 5.03

-14.52%

Eggs

$2.16 MYR 8.80

$1.83 MYR 7.45

18.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 39.53

$10.65 MYR 43.28

-8.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 MYR 15.18

$4.12 MYR 16.74

-9.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 32.13

$8.37 MYR 34.02

-5.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MYR 12.07

$2.70 MYR 10.97

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.54

$1.50 MYR 6.10

-25.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.17

$2.52 MYR 10.25

-0.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.12

$1.20 MYR 4.89

45.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.65

$1.19 MYR 4.85

-4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.06

$1.38 MYR 5.61

-10.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 MYR 6.86

$0.88 MYR 3.58

92.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.59 MYR 2.41

-15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.49

$4.12 MYR 16.75

4.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.77 MYR 84.4

$17.57 MYR 71.4

18.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.72

$2.78 MYR 11.31

39.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.66

$2.87 MYR 11.67

17.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 MYR 1.02

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-66.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.12

$11.73 MYR 47.68

-1.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MYR 3.74

$0.99 MYR 4.01

-7.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$1.04 MYR 4.22

4.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$9.10 MYR 36.98

-79.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.91

$0.50 MYR 2.02

-6.00%

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

$44.5K MYR 181.0K

$35.3K MYR 143.6K

26.00%

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

$37.3K MYR 151.6K

$32.7K MYR 133.0K

13.94%

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

$41.77 MYR 170

$45.46 MYR 185

-8.12%

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

$8.90 MYR 36.17

$9.08 MYR 36.91

-1.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 MYR 101

$30.52 MYR 124

-18.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 MYR 119

$37.06 MYR 151

-21.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.75 MYR 39.65

$5.74 MYR 23.35

69.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.54

$5.01 MYR 20.37

-3.99%

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

$143 MYR 581

$189 MYR 768

-24.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,177 MYR 25.1K

$6,838 MYR 27.8K

-9.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 MYR 266

$64.5 MYR 262

1.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.65 MYR 129

$19.03 MYR 77.4

66.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 353

$71.2 MYR 289

21.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 MYR 294

$46.76 MYR 190

54.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MYR 1,133

$385 MYR 1,566

-27.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 MYR 839

$270 MYR 1,099

-23.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,293

$637 MYR 2,589

-11.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,560

$474 MYR 1,925

-18.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 MYR 8,263

$1,902 MYR 7,731

6.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,519 MYR 6,175

$937 MYR 3,808

62.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$531 MYR 2,160

$864 MYR 3,514

-38.53%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Kuching and $385 in Ulu Tiram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 63% 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 Ulu Tiram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $228 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ulu Tiram earns 63% less. 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: $279 in Kuching versus $385 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 $20.00 versus $19.00 in Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $790 per month in Kuching versus $863 in Ulu Tiram – a 9% 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 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 9% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.