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: $682 in Miri versus $774 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Miri versus $1,217 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,499 in Miri versus $1,660 in Kuching.

Living in Miri costs roughly 12% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 49% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.22 MYR 12.78

$2.84 MYR 11.28

13.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.73 MYR 46.49

$20.23 MYR 80.2

-42.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.02 MYR 15.94

$4.63 MYR 18.35

-13.17%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MYR 10.61

$2.44 MYR 9.68

9.84%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.76

$0.69 MYR 2.75

1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.45

$0.32 MYR 1.28

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.45

$2.76 MYR 10.95

4.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 MYR 14.66

$3.56 MYR 14.13

3.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 MYR 5.37

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-29.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.73

$1.12 MYR 4.45

29.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.18

$1.03 MYR 4.08

-22.33%

Eggs

$3.27 MYR 12.97

$2.17 MYR 8.60

50.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 MYR 43.64

$9.74 MYR 38.62

13.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 MYR 19.05

$3.90 MYR 15.45

23.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.04 MYR 47.72

$8.04 MYR 31.86

49.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MYR 12.53

$3.11 MYR 12.35

1.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.73

$1.11 MYR 4.39

7.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 MYR 8.97

$2.58 MYR 10.22

-12.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.49

$1.78 MYR 7.04

-22.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.35

$1.14 MYR 4.52

-48.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MYR 3.57

$1.17 MYR 4.66

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.61

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-47.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.33

$0.53 MYR 2.11

-37.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 16.77

$4.14 MYR 16.42

2.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.47 MYR 81.2

$21.39 MYR 84.8

-4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.02

$3.87 MYR 15.34

-21.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 MYR 8.98

$3.50 MYR 13.89

-35.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.41

$0.25 MYR 0.99

444.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.72 MYR 34.59

$11.64 MYR 46.14

-25.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$0.91 MYR 3.60

31.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 2.97

$1.14 MYR 4.53

-34.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 MYR 22.85

$1.83 MYR 7.27

214.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$0.49 MYR 1.94

-6.12%

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

$57.9K MYR 229.7K

$45.0K MYR 178.4K

28.77%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.8K

$36.0K MYR 142.9K

-21.74%

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

$30.45 MYR 121

$41.77 MYR 166

-27.10%

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

$9.34 MYR 37.04

$8.95 MYR 35.50

4.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.20 MYR 128

$25.07 MYR 99.4

28.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.52 MYR 113

$29.40 MYR 117

-2.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.75 MYR 22.79

$9.60 MYR 38.08

-40.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.17 MYR 16.53

$4.73 MYR 18.77

-11.84%

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

$97.6 MYR 387

$143 MYR 569

-31.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,240 MYR 20.8K

$6,074 MYR 24.1K

-13.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.09 MYR 139

$65.9 MYR 261

-46.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.06 MYR 75.6

$31.95 MYR 127

-40.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.89 MYR 178

$85.9 MYR 340

-47.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.98 MYR 127

$73.0 MYR 289

-56.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 MYR 1,231

$276 MYR 1,093

12.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$165 MYR 656

$201 MYR 798

-17.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 1,961

$566 MYR 2,243

-12.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,501

$387 MYR 1,536

-2.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,286 MYR 5,100

$2,159 MYR 8,560

-40.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$697 MYR 2,765

$1,568 MYR 6,219

-55.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 MYR 3,041

$555 MYR 2,201

38.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

4.27

-14.99%

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

Last update for Miri: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kuching: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Miri and $276 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 38% 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 $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $248 vs $246, 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

Miri vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Miri pays 38% 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 $276 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 $20.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $682 per month in Miri versus $774 in Kuching – a 13% 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 13% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.