Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Selangor versus $778 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,432 in Selangor versus $1,219 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,865 in Selangor versus $1,661 in Kuching.

Living in Selangor is roughly 28% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Selangor 25% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 MYR 10.42

$2.79 MYR 11.41

-8.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.88 MYR 97.7

$19.69 MYR 80.5

21.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 15.26

$4.85 MYR 19.84

-23.09%

Cappuccino

$2.30 MYR 9.40

$2.55 MYR 10.43

-9.80%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.17

$0.72 MYR 2.93

6.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.32 MYR 1.32

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.27

$2.85 MYR 11.67

48.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 MYR 22.00

$3.69 MYR 15.09

45.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-3.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-11.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.01 MYR 4.13

48.51%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.70

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-14.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 MYR 58.8

$9.41 MYR 38.48

52.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.14

$3.73 MYR 15.24

25.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 MYR 40.41

$8.24 MYR 33.72

19.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$3.04 MYR 12.42

-1.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.11 MYR 4.56

40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$2.59 MYR 10.60

5.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.94

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-18.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.11 MYR 4.53

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.11

$1.23 MYR 5.01

-17.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-32.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$0.49 MYR 1.99

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.71

$4.29 MYR 17.56

0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.7

$21.05 MYR 86.1

-8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.68

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-9.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$3.47 MYR 14.20

22.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.25 MYR 1.02

172.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.46

$11.60 MYR 47.45

2.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$0.97 MYR 3.97

19.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.77

$1.92 MYR 7.86

126.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.46 MYR 1.90

8.70%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

-12.53%

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

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

-17.60%

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

$64.9 MYR 265

$42.30 MYR 173

53.38%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.88

$8.93 MYR 36.53

11.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.88 MYR 106

$25.54 MYR 104

1.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.38 MYR 157

$29.54 MYR 121

29.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 MYR 29.74

$10.01 MYR 40.95

-27.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 MYR 21.13

$4.68 MYR 19.15

10.47%

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

$116 MYR 476

$144 MYR 587

-18.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

-28.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$66.3 MYR 271

-8.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 MYR 150

$32.21 MYR 132

14.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 306

$86.7 MYR 354

-13.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 MYR 322

$71.2 MYR 291

10.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,838

$284 MYR 1,163

58.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MYR 1,437

$207 MYR 847

69.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,413

$560 MYR 2,289

49.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,930

$384 MYR 1,570

22.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,583 MYR 6,473

$2,033 MYR 8,314

-22.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 MYR 2,891

$1,515 MYR 6,195

-53.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MYR 4,284

$531 MYR 2,171

97.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

4.27

-7.26%

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

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Selangor and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Selangor pays 97% 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: $24.00 in Selangor vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 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

Selangor 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 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 97% higher in Selangor, 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: $449 in Selangor 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 $24.00 in Selangor. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $999 per month in Selangor versus $778 in Kuching – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $778 in Kuching versus $999 in Selangor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Selangor. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Selangor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Selangor 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 28% less than in Selangor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.