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: $810 in Miri versus $804 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Miri versus $1,136 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,697 in Miri versus $1,468 in Haikou.

Living in Miri is roughly 1% more expensive than in Haikou, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 MYR 14.43

$4.37 ¥29.31

-18.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.48 MYR 50.5

$15.16 ¥102

-17.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.67

$6.03 ¥40.47

-23.38%

Cappuccino

$2.34 MYR 9.46

$2.40 ¥16.09

-2.50%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.37

$0.80 ¥5.40

3.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.22

$0.37 ¥2.46

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MYR 12.32

$1.46 ¥9.78

108.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 MYR 16.43

$2.69 ¥18.07

50.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 MYR 5.97

$2.07 ¥13.86

-28.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 MYR 7.57

$1.45 ¥9.75

28.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.16

$0.69 ¥4.60

49.28%

Eggs

$3.57 MYR 14.43

$1.35 ¥9.07

164.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 MYR 19.75

$3.91 ¥26.21

25.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.05 MYR 60.8

$15.82 ¥106

-4.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.31

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 MYR 7.85

$0.93 ¥6.24

108.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.33

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.08

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ¥5.55

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 ¥3.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.54

$0.56 ¥3.77

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 MYR 17.67

$3.14 ¥21.04

39.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.78 MYR 80.0

$8.86 ¥59.5

123.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 MYR 12.40

$0.57 ¥3.83

438.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 MYR 9.86

$1.22 ¥8.21

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$0.93 ¥6.27

-45.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.13 MYR 57.1

$52.8 ¥354

-73.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$2.22 ¥14.89

-45.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MYR 2.59

$0.43 ¥2.87

48.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 MYR 25.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 MYR 2.47

$1.23 ¥8.27

-50.41%

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

$50.0K MYR 202.0K

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

$33.7K MYR 136.2K

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

$51.2 MYR 207

$35.52 ¥238

44.09%

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

$10.14 MYR 41.01

$13.40 ¥89.9

-24.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.98 MYR 137

$13.29 ¥89.2

155.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.65 MYR 120

$44.71 ¥300

-33.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 MYR 24.60

$6.17 ¥41.41

-1.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 MYR 18.32

$4.59 ¥30.79

-1.31%

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

$102 MYR 413

$865 ¥5,805

-88.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,617 MYR 26.8K

$19.5K ¥131.0K

-66.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.90 MYR 186

$26.31 ¥177

74.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.91 MYR 92.6

$34.56 ¥232

-33.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 MYR 223

$43.97 ¥295

25.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.13 MYR 174

$37.48 ¥251

15.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 MYR 1,385

$371 ¥2,488

-7.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 MYR 1,183

$293 ¥1,963

-0.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,423

$582 ¥3,907

2.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 MYR 2,412

$361 ¥2,422

65.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,222 MYR 4,940

$3,200 ¥21.5K

-61.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 MYR 2,792

$2,158 ¥14.5K

-68.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$701 MYR 2,835

$729 ¥4,891

-3.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

3.85

7.01%

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

Last update for Miri: September 1, 2026

Last update for Haikou: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $343 in Miri and $371 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Haikou pays 4% 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 $15.00 in Haikou. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $169, 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 1% in total monthly costs ($810 vs $804 including rent). Haikou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 4% 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: $343 in Miri versus $371 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $810 per month in Miri versus $804 in Haikou – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Haikou runs roughly 274% less than in Miri. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Haikou 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 Haikou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Miri. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.