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: $887 in Putra Heights versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,318 in Putra Heights versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,749 in Putra Heights versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Putra Heights is roughly 14% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Putra Heights 33% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$2.80 MYR 11.43

25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.60 MYR 76.0

$20.41 MYR 83.4

-8.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 MYR 18.81

$4.59 MYR 18.77

0.22%

Cappuccino

$2.87 MYR 11.74

$2.58 MYR 10.53

11.24%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.26

$0.71 MYR 2.90

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.30 MYR 1.21

53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.28 MYR 17.49

$2.88 MYR 11.77

48.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 MYR 24.64

$3.74 MYR 15.29

61.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.88

$1.08 MYR 4.42

-12.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.27

$1.05 MYR 4.31

22.86%

Eggs

$1.91 MYR 7.79

$2.19 MYR 8.95

-12.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.82 MYR 60.6

$9.58 MYR 39.17

54.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 19.09

$3.84 MYR 15.71

21.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.44 MYR 38.60

$8.22 MYR 33.60

14.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.89

$2.98 MYR 12.19

-2.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.18

$1.15 MYR 4.69

31.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.75

$2.62 MYR 10.71

0.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.98

$1.77 MYR 7.24

-17.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.07

$1.15 MYR 4.71

7.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.51

$1.24 MYR 5.08

8.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$1.71 MYR 6.98

-29.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.26

$0.52 MYR 2.13

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MYR 16.97

$4.19 MYR 17.12

-0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.94 MYR 57.0

$20.46 MYR 83.6

-31.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 MYR 11.39

$3.88 MYR 15.86

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 MYR 12.16

$3.41 MYR 13.93

-12.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.99

$0.23 MYR 0.94

217.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.87 MYR 48.51

$11.80 MYR 48.21

0.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$0.96 MYR 3.94

19.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 MYR 4.24

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-7.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 MYR 19.06

$1.90 MYR 7.78

145.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$35.7K MYR 146.0K

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

-22.17%

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

$32.7K MYR 133.6K

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

-12.26%

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

$65.4 MYR 267

$41.82 MYR 171

56.43%

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

$8.93 MYR 36.49

$9.22 MYR 37.70

-3.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.35 MYR 104

$25.53 MYR 104

-0.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.45 MYR 153

$29.85 MYR 122

25.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 24.21

$9.81 MYR 40.08

-39.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 MYR 20.92

$4.64 MYR 18.94

10.34%

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

$186 MYR 759

$143 MYR 586

29.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,798 MYR 27.8K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

10.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 MYR 251

$66.3 MYR 271

-7.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.07 MYR 77.9

$31.34 MYR 128

-39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.7 MYR 297

$87.5 MYR 358

-16.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.29 MYR 165

$71.7 MYR 293

-43.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,578

$284 MYR 1,160

36.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,114

$201 MYR 820

35.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,621

$569 MYR 2,326

12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,895

$387 MYR 1,583

19.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,754 MYR 7,167

$2,088 MYR 8,535

-16.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,039 MYR 4,248

$1,510 MYR 6,172

-31.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,090 MYR 4,454

$530 MYR 2,167

105.53%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Putra Heights and $284 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: $19.00 in Putra Heights vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $243 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% 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: $386 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 $887 per month in Putra Heights versus $777 in Kuching – a 14% 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 14% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.