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: $699 in Miri versus $778 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,090 in Miri versus $1,219 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,482 in Miri versus $1,661 in Kuching.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 48% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.27 MYR 13.38

$2.79 MYR 11.41

17.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 MYR 47.40

$19.69 MYR 80.5

-41.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.86 MYR 15.80

$4.85 MYR 19.84

-20.41%

Cappuccino

$2.63 MYR 10.77

$2.55 MYR 10.43

3.14%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.32 MYR 1.32

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 MYR 11.79

$2.85 MYR 11.67

1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 MYR 15.47

$3.69 MYR 15.09

2.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 MYR 5.61

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-27.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 MYR 5.75

$1.14 MYR 4.66

23.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 MYR 3.22

$1.01 MYR 4.13

-21.78%

Eggs

$3.38 MYR 13.81

$2.19 MYR 8.94

54.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 MYR 44.62

$9.41 MYR 38.48

15.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 MYR 18.68

$3.73 MYR 15.24

22.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.78 MYR 48.19

$8.24 MYR 33.72

42.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MYR 12.81

$3.04 MYR 12.42

2.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.11 MYR 4.56

2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 MYR 9.71

$2.59 MYR 10.60

-8.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.64

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MYR 2.39

$1.11 MYR 4.53

-47.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MYR 3.74

$1.23 MYR 5.01

-26.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 MYR 4.00

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-41.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.38

$0.49 MYR 1.99

-30.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.82

$4.29 MYR 17.56

-4.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.01 MYR 81.8

$21.05 MYR 86.1

-4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.23

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-19.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 MYR 9.42

$3.47 MYR 14.20

-33.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 MYR 5.79

$0.25 MYR 1.02

468.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 MYR 35.42

$11.60 MYR 47.45

-25.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.97 MYR 3.97

18.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 MYR 3.12

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-33.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.73

$1.92 MYR 7.86

202.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.46 MYR 1.90

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

$57.9K MYR 236.6K

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

25.10%

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

$28.1K MYR 114.9K

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

-24.79%

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

$30.68 MYR 125

$42.30 MYR 173

-27.47%

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

$9.45 MYR 38.66

$8.93 MYR 36.53

5.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.82 MYR 134

$25.54 MYR 104

28.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.65 MYR 117

$29.54 MYR 121

-3.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 MYR 24.75

$10.01 MYR 40.95

-39.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 MYR 16.92

$4.68 MYR 19.15

-11.54%

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

$98.0 MYR 401

$144 MYR 587

-31.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,147 MYR 21.1K

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

-15.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.09 MYR 144

$66.3 MYR 271

-47.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 MYR 78.2

$32.21 MYR 132

-40.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.72 MYR 183

$86.7 MYR 354

-48.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.45 MYR 129

$71.2 MYR 291

-55.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 MYR 1,298

$284 MYR 1,163

11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 670

$207 MYR 847

-20.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$491 MYR 2,010

$560 MYR 2,289

-12.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 MYR 1,538

$384 MYR 1,570

-2.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,206 MYR 4,932

$2,033 MYR 8,314

-40.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$681 MYR 2,784

$1,515 MYR 6,195

-55.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 MYR 2,807

$531 MYR 2,171

29.28%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Miri and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miri pays 29% 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 $245 vs $242, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 29% 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: $317 in Miri versus $284 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 $699 per month in Miri versus $778 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.