Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $810 in Miri versus $899 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Miri versus $1,388 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,697 in Miri versus $1,877 in Kuching.

Living in Miri costs roughly 10% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 41% lower, Kuching 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 MYR 14.43

$3.44 MYR 13.90

3.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.48 MYR 50.5

$24.31 MYR 98.3

-48.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.67

$5.05 MYR 20.41

-8.51%

Cappuccino

$2.34 MYR 9.46

$3.23 MYR 13.04

-27.55%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.37

$0.76 MYR 3.09

9.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.22

$0.38 MYR 1.55

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MYR 12.32

$4.83 MYR 19.54

-36.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 MYR 16.43

$6.32 MYR 25.55

-35.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 MYR 5.97

$2.22 MYR 8.98

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 MYR 7.57

$1.19 MYR 4.79

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.16

$1.21 MYR 4.90

-14.88%

Eggs

$3.57 MYR 14.43

$2.56 MYR 10.36

39.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 MYR 45.39

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 MYR 19.75

$4.52 MYR 18.27

8.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.05 MYR 60.8

$10.03 MYR 40.54

50.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 MYR 13.45

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 MYR 7.85

$1.32 MYR 5.35

46.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.10

Tomato (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.55

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MYR 6.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.54

$0.56 MYR 2.25

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.37 MYR 17.67

$4.78 MYR 19.34

-8.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.78 MYR 80.0

$21.25 MYR 85.9

-6.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 MYR 12.40

$4.23 MYR 17.10

-27.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 MYR 9.86

$5.15 MYR 20.82

-52.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$0.64 MYR 2.60

-20.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.13 MYR 57.1

$12.58 MYR 50.9

12.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$1.04 MYR 4.19

16.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MYR 2.59

$1.22 MYR 4.93

-47.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.36 MYR 25.70

$8.85 MYR 35.79

-28.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 MYR 2.47

$0.86 MYR 3.47

-29.07%

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

$50.0K MYR 202.0K

$43.0K MYR 173.8K

16.23%

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

$33.7K MYR 136.2K

$37.3K MYR 150.7K

-9.62%

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

$51.2 MYR 207

$36.51 MYR 148

40.18%

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

$10.14 MYR 41.01

$10.11 MYR 40.89

0.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.98 MYR 137

$24.41 MYR 98.7

39.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.65 MYR 120

$30.47 MYR 123

-2.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 MYR 24.60

$12.55 MYR 50.8

-51.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 MYR 18.32

$5.02 MYR 20.31

-9.76%

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

$102 MYR 413

$136 MYR 552

-25.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,617 MYR 26.8K

$7,032 MYR 28.4K

-5.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.90 MYR 186

$63.0 MYR 255

-27.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.91 MYR 92.6

$38.04 MYR 154

-39.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 MYR 223

$90.3 MYR 365

-38.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.13 MYR 174

$65.1 MYR 263

-33.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 MYR 1,385

$369 MYR 1,494

-7.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 MYR 1,183

$239 MYR 968

22.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,423

$644 MYR 2,605

-6.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$597 MYR 2,412

$460 MYR 1,858

29.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,222 MYR 4,940

$2,094 MYR 8,466

-41.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$690 MYR 2,792

$1,534 MYR 6,202

-54.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$701 MYR 2,835

$548 MYR 2,214

28.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

4.37

-5.72%

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

Last update for Miri: September 1, 2026

Last update for Kuching: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $343 in Miri and $369 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 28% 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 $24.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $274 per month, with Miri 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

Miri vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Miri, 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: $343 in Miri versus $369 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Miri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $24.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $810 per month in Miri versus $899 in Kuching – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

For families, Miri is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kuching, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Miri 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 Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.