Cost of Living Comparison Between Lumut, Perak and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Lumut, Perak and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Lumut, Perak versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,398 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,864 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Lumut, Perak is roughly 20% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lumut, Perak 30% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 MYR 14.80

$2.80 MYR 11.43

29.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.83 MYR 48.34

$20.41 MYR 83.4

-42.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.66 MYR 19.05

$4.59 MYR 18.77

1.53%

Cappuccino

$2.85 MYR 11.65

$2.58 MYR 10.53

10.47%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$0.71 MYR 2.90

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.30 MYR 1.21

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 MYR 15.29

$2.88 MYR 11.77

29.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 MYR 23.49

$3.74 MYR 15.29

53.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 MYR 8.54

$1.89 MYR 7.72

10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.26

$1.08 MYR 4.42

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.81

$1.05 MYR 4.31

59.05%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 9.27

$2.19 MYR 8.95

3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.55 MYR 59.5

$9.58 MYR 39.17

51.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 MYR 19.37

$3.84 MYR 15.71

23.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.95 MYR 40.65

$8.22 MYR 33.60

21.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.99

$2.98 MYR 12.19

-1.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MYR 6.47

$1.15 MYR 4.69

37.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.17

$2.62 MYR 10.71

4.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.03

$1.77 MYR 7.24

-16.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.23

$1.15 MYR 4.71

11.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.47

$1.24 MYR 5.08

8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.71 MYR 6.98

-32.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.52 MYR 2.13

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.00

$4.19 MYR 17.12

-0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 MYR 75.6

$20.46 MYR 83.6

-9.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 MYR 13.25

$3.88 MYR 15.86

-16.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 MYR 17.50

$3.41 MYR 13.93

25.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.99

$0.23 MYR 0.94

217.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.86 MYR 48.49

$11.80 MYR 48.21

0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.96 MYR 3.94

19.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-3.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 MYR 19.50

$1.90 MYR 7.78

151.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$0.50 MYR 2.05

2.00%

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

$40.4K MYR 165.3K

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

-11.89%

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

$32.3K MYR 132.0K

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

-13.26%

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

$63.5 MYR 260

$41.82 MYR 171

51.91%

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

$11.62 MYR 47.48

$9.22 MYR 37.70

26.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.09 MYR 107

$25.53 MYR 104

2.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.53 MYR 153

$29.85 MYR 122

25.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 MYR 24.03

$9.81 MYR 40.08

-40.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 MYR 21.29

$4.64 MYR 18.94

12.28%

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

$270 MYR 1,105

$143 MYR 586

88.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,393 MYR 38.4K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

52.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 MYR 248

$66.3 MYR 271

-8.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 MYR 155

$31.34 MYR 128

20.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 355

$87.5 MYR 358

-0.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 MYR 323

$71.7 MYR 293

10.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,556

$284 MYR 1,160

34.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,110

$201 MYR 820

35.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 MYR 2,586

$569 MYR 2,326

11.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MYR 1,949

$387 MYR 1,583

23.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,067 MYR 8,448

$2,088 MYR 8,535

-1.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 MYR 5,088

$1,510 MYR 6,172

-17.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$375 MYR 1,532

$530 MYR 2,167

-29.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.27

4.68%

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

Last update for Lumut, Perak: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Kuching pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Lumut, Perak vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $243, with Kuching cheaper for home cooking.

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

Lumut, Perak 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 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% 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 Lumut, Perak 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 $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Lumut, Perak versus $777 in Kuching – a 20% 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 Lumut, Perak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lumut, Perak 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 20% less than in Lumut, Perak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.