Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Haikou Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Haikou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $682 in Miri versus $785 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Miri versus $1,194 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Miri versus $1,603 in Haikou.

Living in Miri costs roughly 13% less than in Haikou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 49% lower, Haikou 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.22 MYR 12.78

$2.44 ¥16.51

31.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.73 MYR 46.49

$24.58 ¥166

-52.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.02 MYR 15.94

$5.06 ¥34.24

-20.55%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MYR 10.61

$3.06 ¥20.71

-12.42%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.76

$0.46 ¥3.08

52.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.45

$0.33 ¥2.26

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.45

$1.36 ¥9.22

112.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 MYR 14.66

$3.72 ¥25.18

-0.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MYR 5.37

$1.79 ¥12.07

-24.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.73

$1.37 ¥9.25

5.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.18

$0.82 ¥5.54

-2.44%

Eggs

$3.27 MYR 12.97

$1.86 ¥12.60

75.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 MYR 43.64

$12.66 ¥85.6

-13.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 MYR 19.05

$5.70 ¥38.57

-15.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.04 MYR 47.72

$15.45 ¥104

-22.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.53

$0.81 ¥5.48

290.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.73

$0.93 ¥6.26

27.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 MYR 8.97

$0.43 ¥2.91

425.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.49

$0.93 ¥6.29

48.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.35

$0.78 ¥5.25

-24.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MYR 3.57

$0.71 ¥4.83

26.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.61

$0.29 ¥1.96

213.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.33

$0.52 ¥3.53

-36.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 16.77

$3.00 ¥20.27

41.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.47 MYR 81.2

$11.39 ¥77.0

79.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.02

$0.80 ¥5.42

278.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 MYR 8.98

$1.65 ¥11.17

37.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.41

$0.29 ¥1.96

368.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.72 MYR 34.59

$16.58 ¥112

-47.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$2.87 ¥19.40

-58.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 2.97

$0.36 ¥2.41

108.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 MYR 22.85

$6.53 ¥44.17

-11.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$1.13 ¥7.61

-59.29%

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

$57.9K MYR 229.7K

$20.4K ¥138.2K

183.56%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.8K

$16.2K ¥109.4K

74.32%

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

$30.45 MYR 121

$33.79 ¥228

-9.88%

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

$9.34 MYR 37.04

$13.85 ¥93.6

-32.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.20 MYR 128

$8.11 ¥54.9

297.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.52 MYR 113

$32.15 ¥217

-11.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.75 MYR 22.79

$5.80 ¥39.25

-0.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 MYR 16.53

$5.46 ¥36.92

-23.63%

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

$97.6 MYR 387

$333 ¥2,251

-70.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,240 MYR 20.8K

$27.9K ¥188.6K

-81.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.09 MYR 139

$41.58 ¥281

-15.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.06 MYR 75.6

$41.71 ¥282

-54.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.89 MYR 178

$42.57 ¥288

5.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.98 MYR 127

$34.35 ¥232

-6.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 MYR 1,231

$343 ¥2,320

-9.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$165 MYR 656

$274 ¥1,855

-39.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 1,961

$533 ¥3,602

-7.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,501

$472 ¥3,191

-19.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,286 MYR 5,100

$3,212 ¥21.7K

-59.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$697 MYR 2,765

$2,147 ¥14.5K

-67.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 MYR 3,041

$717 ¥4,851

6.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

4.85

-25.15%

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

Last update for Miri: May 30, 2026

Last update for Haikou: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Miri and $343 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 7% 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 Miri vs $25.00 in Haikou. Groceries flip the comparison at $248 vs $212, with Haikou 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

Miri vs Haikou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri and Haikou differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($682 vs $785 including rent). Miri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Miri pays 7% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Miri versus $343 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $682 per month in Miri versus $785 in Haikou – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Miri runs roughly 90% less than in Haikou. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Miri gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Miri and Haikou 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 Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Haikou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.