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: $777 in Kuching versus $857 in Ulu Tiram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,228 in Kuching versus $1,302 in Ulu Tiram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,678 in Kuching versus $1,747 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 42% lower, Ulu Tiram 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 MYR 11.42

$3.51 MYR 14.35

-20.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.41 MYR 83.3

$19.02 MYR 77.7

7.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.75

$4.84 MYR 19.78

-5.17%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.52

$2.80 MYR 11.44

-7.86%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$0.68 MYR 2.79

4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.76

$4.36 MYR 17.81

-33.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 MYR 15.27

$6.46 MYR 26.40

-42.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.71

$1.81 MYR 7.41

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$1.01 MYR 4.13

6.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.30

$1.29 MYR 5.29

-18.60%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.94

$1.81 MYR 7.39

20.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.13

$10.79 MYR 44.04

-11.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 MYR 15.69

$4.05 MYR 16.54

-5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 33.57

$8.27 MYR 33.78

-0.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.69 MYR 10.99

10.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.52 MYR 6.21

-24.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.70

$2.44 MYR 9.96

7.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.24

$1.24 MYR 5.07

42.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.13 MYR 4.62

1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.08

$1.39 MYR 5.69

-10.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 MYR 6.98

$0.91 MYR 3.71

87.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.64 MYR 2.61

-18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.13 MYR 16.85

1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.46 MYR 83.5

$16.83 MYR 68.7

21.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 MYR 15.85

$2.85 MYR 11.65

36.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.91

$3.04 MYR 12.40

12.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.68 MYR 2.79

-66.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 48.17

$11.81 MYR 48.22

-0.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.94

$1.02 MYR 4.17

-5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$0.99 MYR 4.03

14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 MYR 7.77

$9.34 MYR 38.12

-79.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.47 MYR 1.91

6.38%

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

$45.9K MYR 187.4K

$35.3K MYR 144.2K

29.96%

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

$37.2K MYR 152.1K

$33.5K MYR 136.7K

11.26%

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

$41.82 MYR 171

$45.37 MYR 185

-7.82%

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

$9.22 MYR 37.67

$8.92 MYR 36.42

3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.53 MYR 104

$30.40 MYR 124

-16.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 MYR 122

$36.52 MYR 149

-18.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 MYR 40.05

$5.98 MYR 24.40

64.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 MYR 18.93

$5.08 MYR 20.74

-8.66%

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

$143 MYR 585

$190 MYR 774

-24.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

$6,837 MYR 27.9K

-9.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 271

$64.2 MYR 262

3.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.34 MYR 128

$18.86 MYR 77.0

66.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 357

$71.0 MYR 290

23.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 MYR 293

$46.40 MYR 189

54.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,159

$390 MYR 1,594

-27.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 MYR 819

$272 MYR 1,109

-26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 MYR 2,324

$642 MYR 2,620

-11.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,582

$469 MYR 1,917

-17.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,088 MYR 8,527

$2,064 MYR 8,428

1.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,510 MYR 6,167

$1,147 MYR 4,682

31.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$530 MYR 2,165

$861 MYR 3,516

-38.41%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Kuching and $390 in Ulu Tiram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 62% 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 $243 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 62% 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: $284 in Kuching versus $390 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 $777 per month in Kuching versus $857 in Ulu Tiram – a 10% 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 10% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.