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: $737 in Rawang versus $889 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Rawang versus $1,371 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,666 in Rawang versus $1,852 in Kuching.

Living in Rawang costs roughly 17% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rawang 47% lower, Kuching 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 MYR 14.89

$3.53 MYR 14.35

3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.88 MYR 80.9

$25.07 MYR 102

-20.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 MYR 20.36

$4.93 MYR 20.05

1.62%

Cappuccino

$2.96 MYR 12.02

$3.35 MYR 13.64

-11.64%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$0.80 MYR 3.24

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.39 MYR 1.57

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 MYR 16.91

$4.63 MYR 18.84

-10.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 MYR 17.82

$6.06 MYR 24.67

-27.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.51

$2.33 MYR 9.47

-21.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$1.20 MYR 4.88

-7.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.95

$1.22 MYR 4.95

40.16%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.68

$2.56 MYR 10.40

-16.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.09 MYR 65.5

$11.49 MYR 46.74

40.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 MYR 20.31

$4.44 MYR 18.04

12.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.73 MYR 39.56

$9.68 MYR 39.38

0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.16

$3.36 MYR 13.69

-11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 MYR 7.84

$1.33 MYR 5.43

45.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.51 MYR 10.21

$2.45 MYR 9.96

2.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.21

$1.86 MYR 7.58

-17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.36

$1.57 MYR 6.37

-15.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.68

$1.15 MYR 4.69

21.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.59 MYR 6.46

-25.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$0.55 MYR 2.25

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.43 MYR 18.04

$4.80 MYR 19.53

-7.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 MYR 77.7

$21.20 MYR 86.2

-9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.30

$4.07 MYR 16.56

-25.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 MYR 16.93

$5.07 MYR 20.63

-17.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$0.63 MYR 2.58

12.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.22 MYR 49.72

$12.58 MYR 51.2

-2.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 MYR 7.01

$0.96 MYR 3.90

79.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 MYR 1.68

$1.26 MYR 5.13

-67.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 MYR 28.16

$8.85 MYR 36.00

-21.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 MYR 3.31

$0.85 MYR 3.47

-4.71%

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

$42.4K MYR 172.3K

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

-0.28%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.1K

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

-5.57%

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

$38.27 MYR 156

$35.37 MYR 144

8.20%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.62

$10.29 MYR 41.88

-2.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.48 MYR 124

$24.25 MYR 98.7

25.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 MYR 164

$30.72 MYR 125

31.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.55 MYR 26.64

$12.25 MYR 49.84

-46.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 MYR 22.55

$4.91 MYR 19.96

12.83%

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

$308 MYR 1,252

$135 MYR 551

127.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K MYR 44.4K

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

51.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 MYR 251

$63.4 MYR 258

-2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.16 MYR 143

$37.96 MYR 154

-7.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 MYR 347

$90.7 MYR 369

-5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 MYR 286

$66.9 MYR 272

5.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 MYR 580

$371 MYR 1,510

-61.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 MYR 422

$240 MYR 977

-56.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 MYR 2,415

$648 MYR 2,635

-8.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 MYR 974

$454 MYR 1,845

-47.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,056 MYR 8,366

$2,112 MYR 8,593

-2.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,114 MYR 4,530

$1,552 MYR 6,313

-28.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,018 MYR 4,143

$548 MYR 2,229

85.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.37

-2.97%

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

Last update for Rawang: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in Rawang and $371 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Rawang vs $25.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $273 per month, with Rawang 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

Rawang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 86% 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: $143 in Rawang versus $371 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Rawang – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $25.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $737 per month in Rawang versus $889 in Kuching – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Rawang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Rawang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kuching, 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 Rawang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.