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: $881 in Putra Heights versus $804 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,343 in Putra Heights versus $1,223 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Putra Heights versus $1,642 in Kuching.

Living in Putra Heights is roughly 10% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Putra Heights 34% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 MYR 14.16

$2.80 MYR 11.08

27.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.86 MYR 74.5

$20.00 MYR 79.0

-5.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.07

$4.68 MYR 18.49

3.21%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$2.45 MYR 9.69

17.55%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.35

$0.75 MYR 2.94

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.81

$0.32 MYR 1.27

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.02

$2.89 MYR 11.43

49.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 MYR 23.81

$3.63 MYR 14.33

66.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.47

$1.90 MYR 7.51

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.00

$1.12 MYR 4.43

-9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$1.02 MYR 4.03

26.47%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.27

$2.26 MYR 8.91

-18.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.79 MYR 58.4

$9.55 MYR 37.72

54.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 MYR 17.92

$3.73 MYR 14.72

21.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.89 MYR 39.07

$7.99 MYR 31.56

23.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.49

$3.08 MYR 12.18

-5.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.06

$1.15 MYR 4.54

33.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.57

$2.62 MYR 10.36

2.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.79

$1.81 MYR 7.15

-18.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.01

$1.11 MYR 4.40

14.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.54

$1.24 MYR 4.89

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.60

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.06

$0.53 MYR 2.10

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.23

$4.22 MYR 16.67

3.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 MYR 58.0

$21.58 MYR 85.3

-32.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.33

$3.84 MYR 15.18

-25.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 11.93

$3.47 MYR 13.71

-12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.25 MYR 0.99

188.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 47.36

$11.84 MYR 46.78

1.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.71

$0.98 MYR 3.88

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.11 MYR 4.38

-11.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 MYR 18.29

$1.92 MYR 7.60

141.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.47 MYR 1.84

6.38%

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

$34.9K MYR 137.9K

$46.1K MYR 182.0K

-24.22%

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

$32.5K MYR 128.4K

$36.3K MYR 143.3K

-10.40%

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

$65.2 MYR 258

$40.86 MYR 161

59.64%

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

$9.01 MYR 35.61

$9.15 MYR 36.13

-1.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.57 MYR 101

$25.01 MYR 98.8

2.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 MYR 144

$29.43 MYR 116

23.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 MYR 23.67

$9.87 MYR 39.00

-39.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.23 MYR 20.66

$4.72 MYR 18.65

10.81%

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

$191 MYR 753

$145 MYR 575

31.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,828 MYR 27.0K

$6,146 MYR 24.3K

11.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 MYR 243

$65.8 MYR 260

-6.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 MYR 75.6

$31.81 MYR 126

-39.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 MYR 293

$86.1 MYR 340

-13.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 MYR 155

$71.3 MYR 282

-44.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,510

$284 MYR 1,123

34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 MYR 1,046

$203 MYR 800

30.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 MYR 2,595

$566 MYR 2,237

15.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 MYR 1,826

$378 MYR 1,494

22.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,803 MYR 7,120

$2,090 MYR 8,254

-13.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$883 MYR 3,488

$1,556 MYR 6,145

-43.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,151 MYR 4,548

$554 MYR 2,186

108.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.27

-4.68%

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

Last update for Putra Heights: April 26, 2026

Last update for Kuching: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Putra Heights and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 108% 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: $19.00 in Putra Heights vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $245, 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

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

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Putra Heights pays 108% 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: $382 in Putra Heights versus $284 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 $20.00 versus $19.00 in Putra Heights. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $881 per month in Putra Heights versus $804 in Kuching – a 10% 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 10% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.