Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Sarawak versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,286 in Sarawak versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,673 in Sarawak versus $1,633 in Kuching.

Living in Sarawak is roughly 12% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sarawak 33% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.79

$2.76 MYR 11.22

31.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 MYR 76.4

$20.32 MYR 82.6

-7.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MYR 21.46

$4.81 MYR 19.57

9.77%

Cappuccino

$2.76 MYR 11.23

$2.53 MYR 10.29

9.09%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.76 MYR 3.08

-2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.29 MYR 1.20

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 MYR 32.16

$2.78 MYR 11.30

184.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 MYR 33.71

$3.61 MYR 14.67

129.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.69

$1.91 MYR 7.78

-1.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$1.09 MYR 4.45

-8.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.23

$1.06 MYR 4.29

21.70%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.28

$2.15 MYR 8.75

-5.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.95 MYR 60.8

$9.37 MYR 38.12

59.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.39

$3.79 MYR 15.41

-32.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.35

$8.01 MYR 32.58

20.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.82

$2.99 MYR 12.17

-2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.00

$1.14 MYR 4.64

29.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.48

$2.59 MYR 10.51

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.90

$1.80 MYR 7.33

-19.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.97

$1.11 MYR 4.52

9.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.40

$1.24 MYR 5.03

7.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 MYR 4.09

$1.69 MYR 6.89

-40.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 MYR 2.73

$0.53 MYR 2.14

26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.46

$4.19 MYR 17.05

2.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.42 MYR 70.9

$21.36 MYR 86.9

-18.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.49

$3.87 MYR 15.73

-27.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.15

$3.41 MYR 13.86

-12.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.23 MYR 0.93

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 48.71

$11.92 MYR 48.47

0.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.67

$0.93 MYR 3.78

23.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$1.11 MYR 4.50

-11.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 MYR 24.06

$1.84 MYR 7.47

221.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.50 MYR 2.04

-2.00%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.1K

$44.6K MYR 181.3K

-21.63%

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

$31.9K MYR 129.8K

$37.3K MYR 151.8K

-14.51%

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

$43.20 MYR 176

$41.24 MYR 168

4.75%

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

$8.94 MYR 36.36

$8.92 MYR 36.27

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.23 MYR 119

$25.42 MYR 103

14.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 MYR 151

$29.51 MYR 120

26.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 MYR 24.39

$9.77 MYR 39.74

-38.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MYR 20.59

$4.63 MYR 18.82

9.29%

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

$189 MYR 770

$141 MYR 574

34.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,935 MYR 28.2K

$6,063 MYR 24.7K

14.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.81 MYR 150

$65.8 MYR 268

-44.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.24 MYR 160

$31.99 MYR 130

22.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 MYR 313

$85.9 MYR 349

-10.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 MYR 228

$71.5 MYR 291

-21.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 MYR 1,317

$285 MYR 1,159

13.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,095

$205 MYR 832

31.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 MYR 2,052

$556 MYR 2,261

-9.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,463

$386 MYR 1,571

-6.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,935 MYR 7,870

$2,144 MYR 8,718

-9.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$973 MYR 3,956

$1,535 MYR 6,243

-36.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 MYR 1,708

$552 MYR 2,245

-23.94%

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 Sarawak: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Sarawak and $285 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Sarawak vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $243 per month, with Sarawak 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

Sarawak 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kuching earns 31% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $324 in Sarawak 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 Sarawak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $900 per month in Sarawak versus $802 in Kuching – a 12% 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 Sarawak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sarawak 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 12% less than in Sarawak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.