Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawang and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawang and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $851 in Rawang versus $778 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,316 in Rawang versus $1,219 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Rawang versus $1,661 in Kuching.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawang 36% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 MYR 12.30

$2.79 MYR 11.41

7.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.97 MYR 85.8

$19.69 MYR 80.5

6.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$4.85 MYR 19.84

-12.16%

Cappuccino

$2.86 MYR 11.69

$2.55 MYR 10.43

12.16%

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

$0.86 MYR 3.51

$0.72 MYR 2.93

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.32 MYR 1.32

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 MYR 17.66

$2.85 MYR 11.67

51.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 MYR 17.56

$3.69 MYR 15.09

16.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.47

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-2.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.03

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-13.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 MYR 6.75

$1.01 MYR 4.13

63.37%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.79

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 MYR 59.3

$9.41 MYR 38.48

54.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 MYR 18.88

$3.73 MYR 15.24

23.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.47 MYR 38.73

$8.24 MYR 33.72

14.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.36

$3.04 MYR 12.42

-8.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.11 MYR 4.56

29.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.55

$2.59 MYR 10.60

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.93

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-18.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.85

$1.11 MYR 4.53

7.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.23 MYR 5.01

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.66

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-47.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.97

$0.49 MYR 1.99

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 17.06

$4.29 MYR 17.56

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.87 MYR 77.2

$21.05 MYR 86.1

-10.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 MYR 11.10

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-27.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 MYR 14.45

$3.47 MYR 14.20

1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.84

$0.25 MYR 1.02

176.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.60 MYR 47.42

$11.60 MYR 47.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$0.97 MYR 3.97

-23.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-53.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MYR 18.96

$1.92 MYR 7.86

141.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$0.46 MYR 1.90

8.70%

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

$33.4K MYR 136.7K

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

-27.72%

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

$27.2K MYR 111.3K

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

-27.16%

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

$38.80 MYR 159

$42.30 MYR 173

-8.27%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.86

$8.93 MYR 36.53

11.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.14 MYR 107

$25.54 MYR 104

2.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.59 MYR 154

$29.54 MYR 121

27.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.74 MYR 23.49

$10.01 MYR 40.95

-42.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MYR 19.90

$4.68 MYR 19.15

3.85%

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

$234 MYR 958

$144 MYR 587

63.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,231 MYR 25.5K

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 222

$66.3 MYR 271

-18.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.83 MYR 118

$32.21 MYR 132

-10.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 MYR 250

$86.7 MYR 354

-29.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.9 MYR 212

$71.2 MYR 291

-27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,559

$284 MYR 1,163

34.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 MYR 1,082

$207 MYR 847

27.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$649 MYR 2,655

$560 MYR 2,289

15.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MYR 1,922

$384 MYR 1,570

22.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,052 MYR 8,395

$2,033 MYR 8,314

0.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,134 MYR 4,639

$1,515 MYR 6,195

-25.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,195 MYR 4,887

$531 MYR 2,171

125.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.27

-2.58%

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

Last update for Rawang: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Rawang and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 125% 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: $21.00 in Rawang vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $242 per month, with Kuching 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

Rawang vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 125% higher in Rawang, 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: $381 in Rawang 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 $21.00 in Rawang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $851 per month in Rawang versus $778 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 Rawang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Rawang 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 Rawang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.