Cost of Living Comparison Between Labuan and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Labuan and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $913 in Labuan versus $778 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Labuan versus $1,219 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,893 in Labuan versus $1,661 in Kuching.

Living in Labuan is roughly 17% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Labuan 32% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.41 MYR 22.13

$2.79 MYR 11.41

93.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.81 MYR 97.4

$19.69 MYR 80.5

20.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 MYR 26.77

$4.85 MYR 19.84

35.05%

Cappuccino

$3.72 MYR 15.21

$2.55 MYR 10.43

45.88%

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

$1.06 MYR 4.35

$0.72 MYR 2.93

47.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.32 MYR 1.32

21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 14.35

$2.85 MYR 11.67

23.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 MYR 20.39

$3.69 MYR 15.09

34.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.84

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-11.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-11.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.24

$1.01 MYR 4.13

26.73%

Eggs

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.92 MYR 61.0

$9.41 MYR 38.48

58.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 MYR 18.08

$3.73 MYR 15.24

18.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 MYR 39.51

$8.24 MYR 33.72

17.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.25

$3.04 MYR 12.42

-1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.25

$1.11 MYR 4.56

37.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.61

$2.59 MYR 10.60

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.64

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.11 MYR 4.53

8.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.23

$1.23 MYR 5.01

4.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MYR 4.23

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-38.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.11

$0.49 MYR 1.99

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.53

$4.29 MYR 17.56

Wine (Bottle)

$16.63 MYR 68.0

$21.05 MYR 86.1

-21.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 MYR 11.68

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-23.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.28

$3.47 MYR 14.20

-13.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$0.25 MYR 1.02

180.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.76 MYR 48.10

$11.60 MYR 47.45

1.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.97 MYR 3.97

18.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-9.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 MYR 24.76

$1.92 MYR 7.86

215.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.46 MYR 1.90

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

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

-24.63%

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

$31.9K MYR 130.5K

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

-14.57%

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

$44.09 MYR 180

$42.30 MYR 173

4.23%

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

$8.95 MYR 36.59

$8.93 MYR 36.53

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.98 MYR 119

$25.54 MYR 104

13.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.71 MYR 150

$29.54 MYR 121

24.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 MYR 23.70

$10.01 MYR 40.95

-42.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 20.09

$4.68 MYR 19.15

4.91%

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

$191 MYR 782

$144 MYR 587

33.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,796 MYR 27.8K

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

12.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 MYR 245

$66.3 MYR 271

-9.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.52 MYR 113

$32.21 MYR 132

-14.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.8 MYR 298

$86.7 MYR 354

-15.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.6 MYR 211

$71.2 MYR 291

-27.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,558

$284 MYR 1,163

34.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,113

$207 MYR 847

31.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,622

$560 MYR 2,289

14.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 MYR 1,916

$384 MYR 1,570

22.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,970 MYR 8,058

$2,033 MYR 8,314

-3.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,287 MYR 5,265

$1,515 MYR 6,195

-15.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$371 MYR 1,516

$531 MYR 2,171

-30.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.27

-4.68%

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

Last update for Labuan: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Labuan and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Labuan vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 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

Labuan vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Kuching. 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: $381 in Labuan versus $284 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 $24.00 in Labuan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $913 per month in Labuan versus $778 in Kuching – a 17% 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 Labuan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Labuan 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 17% less than in Labuan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.