Cost of Living Comparison Between Putra Heights and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Putra Heights and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Putra Heights versus $870 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,391 in Putra Heights versus $1,398 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,832 in Putra Heights versus $1,926 in Kuching.

Living in Putra Heights is roughly 9% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Putra Heights 31% lower, Kuching 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MYR 14.95

$3.40 MYR 13.90

7.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.70 MYR 88.8

$24.39 MYR 99.8

-11.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.19

$4.95 MYR 20.25

-0.40%

Cappuccino

$2.86 MYR 11.70

$3.21 MYR 13.14

-10.90%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.46

$0.75 MYR 3.09

12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MYR 1.81

$0.36 MYR 1.47

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 MYR 18.21

$4.77 MYR 19.50

-6.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 25.02

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 MYR 7.22

$2.38 MYR 9.75

-26.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.38

$1.27 MYR 5.19

-15.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.90

$1.17 MYR 4.78

23.08%

Eggs

$1.74 MYR 7.12

$2.49 MYR 10.21

-30.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.73 MYR 64.4

$11.41 MYR 46.71

37.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 MYR 18.56

$4.30 MYR 17.60

5.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.20

$9.75 MYR 39.91

-1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 MYR 14.13

$3.16 MYR 12.93

9.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.83

$1.34 MYR 5.48

24.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 MYR 9.87

$2.47 MYR 10.12

-2.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 MYR 6.55

$1.79 MYR 7.34

-10.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.59

$1.34 MYR 5.50

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.89

$1.15 MYR 4.71

25.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.64 MYR 6.70

-28.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.11

$0.54 MYR 2.23

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.66

$4.73 MYR 19.38

-8.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 MYR 57.3

$22.31 MYR 91.3

-37.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 MYR 12.21

$4.11 MYR 16.84

-27.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.25

$5.13 MYR 21.01

-41.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.95

$0.58 MYR 2.39

24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.09 MYR 49.49

$12.49 MYR 51.1

-3.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.16

$0.94 MYR 3.83

34.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 MYR 3.17

$1.20 MYR 4.92

-35.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 MYR 20.30

$8.44 MYR 34.56

-41.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.35

$0.81 MYR 3.32

1.23%

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

$42.4K MYR 173.4K

$41.2K MYR 168.5K

2.95%

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

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

$36.5K MYR 149.4K

-4.00%

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

$65.1 MYR 266

$35.66 MYR 146

82.47%

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

$9.41 MYR 38.52

$10.22 MYR 41.83

-7.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.20 MYR 107

$25.15 MYR 103

4.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.09 MYR 168

$29.90 MYR 122

37.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.58 MYR 31.02

$12.21 MYR 49.99

-37.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 MYR 22.08

$5.05 MYR 20.67

6.73%

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

$165 MYR 676

$136 MYR 555

21.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,404 MYR 22.1K

$7,186 MYR 29.4K

-24.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.5 MYR 268

$63.9 MYR 262

2.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.47 MYR 67.4

$37.13 MYR 152

-55.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 MYR 336

$89.5 MYR 366

-8.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 MYR 166

$64.5 MYR 264

-36.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 MYR 1,669

$360 MYR 1,472

13.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 MYR 1,307

$242 MYR 991

31.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 MYR 2,753

$642 MYR 2,629

4.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 MYR 1,975

$475 MYR 1,944

1.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,986 MYR 8,129

$2,104 MYR 8,611

-5.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 MYR 5,051

$1,527 MYR 6,249

-19.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,103 MYR 4,514

$536 MYR 2,194

105.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.37

-7.09%

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

Last update for Putra Heights: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Putra Heights and $360 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 106% 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: $22.00 in Putra Heights vs $24.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $274 per month, with Putra Heights 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

Putra Heights vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 106% higher in Putra Heights, 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: $408 in Putra Heights versus $360 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kuching – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $22.00 in Putra Heights. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Putra Heights versus $870 in Kuching – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kuching gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Putra Heights 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 Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.