Cost of Living Comparison Between Kulim and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Kulim and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Kulim versus $782 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,508 in Kulim versus $1,204 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,014 in Kulim versus $1,625 in Kuching.

Living in Kulim is roughly 28% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kulim 25% lower, Kuching 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 MYR 10.66

$2.89 MYR 11.79

-9.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.18 MYR 94.8

$20.12 MYR 82.2

15.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.84 MYR 15.71

$4.79 MYR 19.58

-19.83%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 9.10

$2.55 MYR 10.42

-12.55%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.92

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.30 MYR 1.23

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.59

$2.75 MYR 11.22

56.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.32 MYR 21.74

$3.64 MYR 14.86

46.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.71

$1.90 MYR 7.78

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.10 MYR 4.49

2.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.87

$1.06 MYR 4.31

35.85%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.53

$2.25 MYR 9.18

-18.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.46 MYR 91.8

$9.44 MYR 38.60

137.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 MYR 19.44

$3.74 MYR 15.28

27.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.41 MYR 42.55

$7.89 MYR 32.25

31.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 MYR 16.61

$3.03 MYR 12.39

33.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.90

$1.14 MYR 4.67

48.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 MYR 14.15

$2.62 MYR 10.71

32.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$1.77 MYR 7.23

50.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.13

$1.12 MYR 4.56

55.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 4.05

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-17.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.76 MYR 7.18

-36.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.27

$0.52 MYR 2.14

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.77

$4.26 MYR 17.41

2.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.46 MYR 67.3

$20.76 MYR 84.9

-20.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.21 MYR 17.21

$3.79 MYR 15.51

11.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.65 MYR 23.11

$3.42 MYR 13.99

65.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.23 MYR 0.94

113.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 48.96

$11.81 MYR 48.26

1.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.88

$0.96 MYR 3.92

23.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.05

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 MYR 18.08

$1.91 MYR 7.82

131.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.46 MYR 1.88

2.17%

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

$44.1K MYR 180.2K

$45.8K MYR 187.3K

-3.77%

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

$31.0K MYR 126.5K

$36.2K MYR 148.0K

-14.48%

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

$75.6 MYR 309

$40.93 MYR 167

84.75%

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

$9.93 MYR 40.58

$9.27 MYR 37.90

7.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.60 MYR 117

$25.28 MYR 103

13.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.15 MYR 152

$29.07 MYR 119

27.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 MYR 23.93

$9.96 MYR 40.73

-41.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.62 MYR 22.97

$4.67 MYR 19.11

20.34%

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

$117 MYR 478

$145 MYR 592

-19.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,247 MYR 17.4K

$6,146 MYR 25.1K

-30.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 MYR 442

$65.1 MYR 266

66.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.39 MYR 112

$31.59 MYR 129

-13.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 306

$86.8 MYR 355

-13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 MYR 321

$72.1 MYR 295

8.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,595

$279 MYR 1,140

39.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,106

$203 MYR 830

33.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 MYR 2,687

$569 MYR 2,325

15.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 MYR 1,909

$385 MYR 1,575

21.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,759 MYR 7,191

$2,089 MYR 8,540

-15.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,263 MYR 5,161

$1,518 MYR 6,205

-16.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 MYR 2,213

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

4.27

-7.26%

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

Last update for Kulim: July 22, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $390 in Kulim and $279 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Kulim vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $242 per month, with Kuching 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

Kulim vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,504 in Kulim and $1,174 in Kuching to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $390 in Kulim versus $279 in Kuching. 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 $23.00 in Kulim. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Kulim versus $782 in Kuching – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $782 in Kuching versus $1,003 in Kulim, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Kulim. 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 Kulim, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kulim and Kuching 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 28% less than in Kulim. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.