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: $699 in Miri versus $786 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,090 in Miri versus $1,196 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,482 in Miri versus $1,605 in Haikou.

Living in Miri costs roughly 11% less than in Haikou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 48% lower, Haikou 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.27 MYR 13.39

$2.55 ¥17.26

28.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 MYR 47.43

$24.04 ¥163

-51.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.86 MYR 15.81

$5.31 ¥35.95

-27.31%

Cappuccino

$2.63 MYR 10.78

$2.95 ¥19.94

-10.85%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.94

$0.45 ¥3.06

60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.30 ¥2.06

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.79

$1.40 ¥9.49

105.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 MYR 15.48

$3.63 ¥24.55

4.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MYR 5.61

$1.77 ¥12.00

-22.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 MYR 5.75

$1.42 ¥9.61

-0.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 MYR 3.22

$0.88 ¥5.93

-10.23%

Eggs

$3.38 MYR 13.82

$1.85 ¥12.55

82.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 MYR 44.64

$12.90 ¥87.3

-15.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 MYR 18.70

$5.47 ¥37.00

-16.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 MYR 48.22

$15.10 ¥102

-21.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MYR 12.81

$0.86 ¥5.79

263.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$0.89 ¥6.05

28.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 MYR 9.71

$0.40 ¥2.72

492.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.65

$0.95 ¥6.40

45.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MYR 2.39

$0.70 ¥4.76

-17.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MYR 3.74

$0.68 ¥4.62

33.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 MYR 4.01

$0.27 ¥1.81

262.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.38

$0.52 ¥3.53

-34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.83

$2.90 ¥19.65

41.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 MYR 81.9

$11.69 ¥79.2

71.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.24

$0.79 ¥5.35

278.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 MYR 9.42

$1.57 ¥10.65

46.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 MYR 5.80

$0.27 ¥1.83

425.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 MYR 35.44

$16.76 ¥113

-48.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$2.73 ¥18.47

-57.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 MYR 3.12

$0.33 ¥2.20

130.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.75

$6.73 ¥45.58

-13.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.16 ¥7.87

-60.34%

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

$57.9K MYR 236.8K

$20.3K ¥137.7K

184.37%

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

$28.1K MYR 115.0K

$16.7K ¥112.9K

68.48%

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

$30.68 MYR 126

$34.12 ¥231

-10.08%

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

$9.45 MYR 38.69

$13.71 ¥92.8

-31.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.82 MYR 134

$8.57 ¥58.0

282.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.65 MYR 117

$32.90 ¥223

-12.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 MYR 24.77

$5.79 ¥39.21

4.49%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 MYR 16.93

$5.41 ¥36.64

-23.48%

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

$98.0 MYR 401

$340 ¥2,304

-71.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,147 MYR 21.1K

$28.4K ¥192.2K

-81.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.09 MYR 144

$41.66 ¥282

-15.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 MYR 78.2

$41.90 ¥284

-54.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.72 MYR 183

$42.49 ¥288

5.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.45 MYR 129

$35.08 ¥237

-10.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 MYR 1,299

$352 ¥2,383

-9.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 671

$282 ¥1,906

-41.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 MYR 2,011

$540 ¥3,655

-9.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 MYR 1,539

$469 ¥3,173

-19.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,206 MYR 4,935

$3,108 ¥21.0K

-61.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$681 MYR 2,785

$2,120 ¥14.3K

-67.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 MYR 2,808

$719 ¥4,868

-4.60%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Haikou: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Miri and $352 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haikou pays 5% 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: $12.00 in Miri vs $24.00 in Haikou. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 vs $211, 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 12% in total monthly costs ($699 vs $786 including rent). Miri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Haikou. 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: $317 in Miri versus $352 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $699 per month in Miri versus $786 in Haikou – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Miri runs roughly 94% 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 12% less than in Haikou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.