Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $909 per month in Sarawak vs $1,057 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,312 per month in Sarawak vs $1,623 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,714 per month in Sarawak vs $2,190 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Sarawak is about 14% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Sarawak 32% lower, Kuala Lumpur 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 MYR 13.65

$4.66 MYR 18.39

-25.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 73.9

$28.64 MYR 113

-34.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 MYR 21.37

$4.79 MYR 18.92

12.94%

Cappuccino

$2.70 MYR 10.66

$3.11 MYR 12.27

-13.18%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.11

$0.90 MYR 3.55

-12.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.55

$0.49 MYR 1.94

-20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.72 MYR 30.51

$4.25 MYR 16.80

81.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 MYR 32.13

$5.82 MYR 23.00

39.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.07

$2.04 MYR 8.07

-12.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.92

$1.00 MYR 3.95

-1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.71 MYR 6.76

-28.07%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.08

$2.25 MYR 8.89

-9.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.06 MYR 59.5

$14.85 MYR 58.7

1.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.48

$4.58 MYR 18.10

-42.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 MYR 37.93

$9.56 MYR 37.78

0.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 11.81

$3.00 MYR 11.86

-0.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.75

$1.56 MYR 6.15

-6.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 9.88

$2.71 MYR 10.69

-7.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.65

$1.50 MYR 5.94

-4.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.82

$1.21 MYR 4.79

0.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.04

$1.41 MYR 5.55

-9.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MYR 4.09

$1.18 MYR 4.65

-11.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.47

$0.68 MYR 2.68

-7.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.41

$4.11 MYR 16.25

1.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.22 MYR 64.1

$18.73 MYR 74.0

-13.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 MYR 11.28

$3.35 MYR 13.25

-14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 11.74

$4.39 MYR 17.34

-32.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.87

$0.69 MYR 2.73

5.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 45.65

$11.60 MYR 45.83

-0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.75

$1.19 MYR 4.70

0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.90

$1.15 MYR 4.52

-13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 MYR 23.35

$4.76 MYR 18.79

24.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.50 MYR 1.99

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

$35.2K MYR 139.1K

$39.4K MYR 155.8K

-10.73%

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

$31.7K MYR 125.3K

$32.0K MYR 126.5K

-1.00%

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

$42.70 MYR 169

$64.5 MYR 255

-33.77%

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

$8.86 MYR 34.99

$11.67 MYR 46.09

-24.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.95 MYR 114

$25.55 MYR 101

13.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.04 MYR 146

$45.58 MYR 180

-18.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 23.82

$7.57 MYR 29.90

-20.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.34

$5.13 MYR 20.27

-4.48%

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

$187 MYR 737

$266 MYR 1,051

-29.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,975 MYR 27.6K

$9,264 MYR 36.6K

-24.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.88 MYR 142

$60.5 MYR 239

-40.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.15 MYR 155

$37.04 MYR 146

5.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 MYR 311

$85.2 MYR 336

-7.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 MYR 227

$79.1 MYR 313

-27.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 MYR 1,289

$570 MYR 2,252

-42.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 MYR 1,065

$365 MYR 1,440

-26.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 MYR 1,977

$1,079 MYR 4,262

-53.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MYR 1,405

$647 MYR 2,554

-44.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,754 MYR 6,928

$4,015 MYR 15.9K

-56.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 MYR 3,498

$1,535 MYR 6,063

-42.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$429 MYR 1,696

$1,557 MYR 6,151

-72.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.47

-8.95%

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

Last update for Sarawak: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Sarawak versus $570 in Kuala Lumpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 263% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Sarawak versus $29 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $267 – making Sarawak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sarawak vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,364 per month in Sarawak and $1,585 in Kuala Lumpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sarawak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Kuala Lumpur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Sarawak and $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sarawak, where all-in costs run around $909, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,057. In Sarawak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sarawak – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sarawak. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.