Cost of Living Comparison Between Sentul and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Sentul and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Sentul versus $889 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,348 in Sentul versus $1,371 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,771 in Sentul versus $1,852 in Kuching.

Living in Sentul is roughly 4% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sentul 33% lower, Kuching 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 MYR 15.04

$3.53 MYR 14.35

4.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.16 MYR 90.1

$25.07 MYR 102

-11.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MYR 20.22

$4.93 MYR 20.05

0.81%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.16

$3.35 MYR 13.64

-10.75%

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)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.39 MYR 1.57

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 MYR 13.67

$4.63 MYR 18.84

-27.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 MYR 23.46

$6.06 MYR 24.67

-4.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.14

$2.33 MYR 9.47

-24.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.42

$1.20 MYR 4.88

-9.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.93

$1.22 MYR 4.95

19.67%

Eggs

$1.77 MYR 7.19

$2.56 MYR 10.40

-30.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 39.81

$11.49 MYR 46.74

-14.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 MYR 13.35

$4.44 MYR 18.04

-26.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 MYR 40.27

$9.68 MYR 39.38

2.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 MYR 13.70

$3.36 MYR 13.69

0.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.17

$1.33 MYR 5.43

32.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.35

$2.45 MYR 9.96

13.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 MYR 6.69

$1.86 MYR 7.58

-11.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$1.57 MYR 6.37

-8.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.15 MYR 4.69

44.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.63

$1.59 MYR 6.46

-13.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.55 MYR 2.25

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.96

$4.80 MYR 19.53

-8.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 MYR 58.5

$21.20 MYR 86.2

-32.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 MYR 11.42

$4.07 MYR 16.56

-30.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 MYR 12.76

$5.07 MYR 20.63

-38.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.63 MYR 2.58

12.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.16 MYR 49.48

$12.58 MYR 51.2

-3.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 MYR 4.99

$0.96 MYR 3.90

28.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.46

$1.26 MYR 5.13

-71.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 MYR 36.73

$8.85 MYR 36.00

2.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$0.85 MYR 3.47

-8.24%

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

$43.0K MYR 175.1K

$42.5K MYR 172.8K

1.33%

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

$33.7K MYR 137.0K

$36.7K MYR 149.4K

-8.33%

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

$49.11 MYR 200

$35.37 MYR 144

38.85%

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

$8.28 MYR 33.70

$10.29 MYR 41.88

-19.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.87 MYR 109

$24.25 MYR 98.7

10.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.18 MYR 168

$30.72 MYR 125

34.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 MYR 27.68

$12.25 MYR 49.84

-44.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.51

$4.91 MYR 19.96

2.65%

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

$163 MYR 662

$135 MYR 551

20.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,578 MYR 18.6K

$7,205 MYR 29.3K

-36.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 MYR 212

$63.4 MYR 258

-17.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.80 MYR 68.3

$37.96 MYR 154

-55.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 MYR 324

$90.7 MYR 369

-12.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.83 MYR 166

$66.9 MYR 272

-38.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 MYR 1,733

$371 MYR 1,510

14.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 MYR 1,343

$240 MYR 977

37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 MYR 2,830

$648 MYR 2,635

7.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 MYR 2,013

$454 MYR 1,845

9.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,052 MYR 8,350

$2,112 MYR 8,593

-2.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,126 MYR 4,581

$1,552 MYR 6,313

-27.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 MYR 3,650

$548 MYR 2,229

63.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.37

-7.09%

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

Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kuching: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Sentul and $371 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sentul pays 64% 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: $22.00 in Sentul vs $25.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $273 per month, with Sentul 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

Sentul vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 64% higher in Sentul, 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: $426 in Sentul versus $371 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 $25.00 versus $22.00 in Sentul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Sentul versus $889 in Kuching – a 4% 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 Sentul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sentul 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 4% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.