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: $875 in Putra Heights versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,315 in Putra Heights versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,756 in Putra Heights versus $1,633 in Kuching.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Putra Heights 35% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 MYR 14.23

$2.76 MYR 11.19

27.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.65 MYR 75.6

$20.32 MYR 82.4

-8.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.55

$4.81 MYR 19.51

0.21%

Cappuccino

$2.91 MYR 11.82

$2.53 MYR 10.26

15.02%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.43

$0.76 MYR 3.07

11.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.29 MYR 1.19

65.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 MYR 16.83

$2.78 MYR 11.27

49.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 MYR 24.54

$3.61 MYR 14.63

67.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.53

$1.91 MYR 7.76

-2.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.12

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-6.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.00

$1.06 MYR 4.28

16.04%

Eggs

$1.82 MYR 7.37

$2.15 MYR 8.73

-15.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.44 MYR 58.6

$9.37 MYR 38.01

54.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.35

$3.79 MYR 15.36

19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 MYR 40.01

$8.01 MYR 32.49

23.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MYR 11.71

$2.99 MYR 12.14

-3.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.93

$1.14 MYR 4.63

28.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.87

$2.59 MYR 10.48

3.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.18

$1.80 MYR 7.31

-15.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.01

$1.11 MYR 4.50

10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.68

$1.24 MYR 5.01

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MYR 4.78

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-30.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.29

$0.53 MYR 2.13

7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 MYR 16.70

$4.19 MYR 17.00

-1.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.48 MYR 58.7

$21.36 MYR 86.6

-32.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 MYR 11.60

$3.87 MYR 15.69

-26.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 MYR 11.73

$3.41 MYR 13.82

-15.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.92

$0.23 MYR 0.93

213.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.76 MYR 47.68

$11.92 MYR 48.32

-1.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$0.93 MYR 3.76

23.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.19

$1.11 MYR 4.49

-7.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 MYR 19.58

$1.84 MYR 7.45

162.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-8.00%

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

$35.7K MYR 144.7K

$44.6K MYR 180.8K

-19.95%

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

$32.5K MYR 131.7K

$37.3K MYR 151.3K

-12.96%

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

$65.2 MYR 264

$41.24 MYR 167

58.10%

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

$9.08 MYR 36.81

$8.92 MYR 36.16

1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.51 MYR 103

$25.42 MYR 103

0.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.75 MYR 149

$29.51 MYR 120

24.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 MYR 23.43

$9.77 MYR 39.62

-40.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.18

$4.63 MYR 18.77

12.74%

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

$187 MYR 757

$141 MYR 572

32.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,960 MYR 28.2K

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

14.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 MYR 244

$65.8 MYR 267

-8.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.58 MYR 75.4

$31.99 MYR 130

-41.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.4 MYR 298

$85.9 MYR 348

-14.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.76 MYR 161

$71.5 MYR 290

-44.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,570

$285 MYR 1,156

35.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,093

$205 MYR 830

31.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,587

$556 MYR 2,255

14.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MYR 1,936

$386 MYR 1,566

23.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,110 MYR 8,554

$2,144 MYR 8,692

-1.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$871 MYR 3,533

$1,535 MYR 6,224

-43.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,118 MYR 4,532

$552 MYR 2,239

102.42%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Putra Heights and $285 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 102% 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 $245 vs $243, 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 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Putra Heights pays 102% 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: $387 in Putra Heights versus $285 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 $875 per month in Putra Heights versus $802 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.