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: $852 in Rawang versus $774 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,310 in Rawang versus $1,217 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,768 in Rawang versus $1,660 in Kuching.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.05

$2.84 MYR 11.28

7.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.02 MYR 83.4

$20.23 MYR 80.2

3.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 MYR 16.99

$4.63 MYR 18.35

-7.56%

Cappuccino

$2.82 MYR 11.20

$2.44 MYR 9.68

15.57%

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

$0.91 MYR 3.60

$0.69 MYR 2.75

31.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.35

$0.32 MYR 1.28

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 MYR 16.55

$2.76 MYR 10.95

51.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 MYR 17.10

$3.56 MYR 14.13

21.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.28

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$1.12 MYR 4.45

-8.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.81

$1.03 MYR 4.08

66.99%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$2.17 MYR 8.60

-5.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.67 MYR 58.2

$9.74 MYR 38.62

50.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.22

$3.90 MYR 15.45

17.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.40 MYR 37.29

$8.04 MYR 31.86

16.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.35

$3.11 MYR 12.35

-8.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.95

$1.11 MYR 4.39

35.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 MYR 10.75

$2.58 MYR 10.22

5.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.77

$1.78 MYR 7.04

-17.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.54

$1.14 MYR 4.52

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.62

$1.17 MYR 4.66

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 MYR 3.64

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-47.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.53 MYR 2.11

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.18

$4.14 MYR 16.42

4.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 MYR 78.2

$21.39 MYR 84.8

-7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.64

$3.87 MYR 15.34

-30.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.31

$3.50 MYR 13.89

-4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.25 MYR 0.99

176.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.68 MYR 46.30

$11.64 MYR 46.14

0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.91

$0.91 MYR 3.60

-19.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.00

$1.14 MYR 4.53

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 MYR 18.19

$1.83 MYR 7.27

150.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.01

$0.49 MYR 1.94

4.08%

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

$33.9K MYR 134.3K

$45.0K MYR 178.4K

-24.71%

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

$27.2K MYR 108.0K

$36.0K MYR 142.9K

-24.40%

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

$37.94 MYR 150

$41.77 MYR 166

-9.17%

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

$10.01 MYR 39.71

$8.95 MYR 35.50

11.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 MYR 101

$25.07 MYR 99.4

1.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 MYR 148

$29.40 MYR 117

26.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.95

$9.60 MYR 38.08

-39.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 MYR 19.30

$4.73 MYR 18.77

2.96%

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

$235 MYR 934

$143 MYR 569

64.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,161 MYR 24.4K

$6,074 MYR 24.1K

1.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 MYR 220

$65.9 MYR 261

-15.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.12 MYR 115

$31.95 MYR 127

-8.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 240

$85.9 MYR 340

-29.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.9 MYR 206

$73.0 MYR 289

-28.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,506

$276 MYR 1,093

37.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,076

$201 MYR 798

34.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 MYR 2,516

$566 MYR 2,243

12.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 MYR 1,903

$387 MYR 1,536

23.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,013 MYR 7,981

$2,159 MYR 8,560

-6.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$962 MYR 3,814

$1,568 MYR 6,219

-38.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,232 MYR 4,886

$555 MYR 2,201

122.02%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuching: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Rawang and $276 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 122% 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 $255 vs $246 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Rawang pays 122% 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: $380 in Rawang versus $276 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 $852 per month in Rawang versus $774 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 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 10% less than in Rawang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.