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: $816 in Sentul versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,242 in Sentul versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,669 in Sentul versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Sentul is roughly 5% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sentul 39% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.71

$2.80 MYR 11.43

28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 MYR 77.3

$20.41 MYR 83.4

-7.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MYR 19.29

$4.59 MYR 18.77

2.83%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.99

$2.58 MYR 10.53

4.26%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.71 MYR 2.90

-4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.30 MYR 1.21

63.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 MYR 14.86

$2.88 MYR 11.77

26.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 MYR 20.99

$3.74 MYR 15.29

37.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.46

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.14

$1.08 MYR 4.42

-6.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.27

$1.05 MYR 4.31

69.52%

Eggs

$1.82 MYR 7.43

$2.19 MYR 8.95

-16.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.98

$9.58 MYR 39.17

12.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MYR 13.92

$3.84 MYR 15.71

-11.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 MYR 33.06

$8.22 MYR 33.60

-1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 MYR 11.20

$2.98 MYR 12.19

-8.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.15

$1.15 MYR 4.69

30.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$2.62 MYR 10.71

-2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$1.77 MYR 7.24

-31.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.65

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.70

$1.24 MYR 5.08

12.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.88

$1.71 MYR 6.98

-44.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.41

$0.52 MYR 2.13

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.79

$4.19 MYR 17.12

-1.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 MYR 56.8

$20.46 MYR 83.6

-32.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.04

$3.88 MYR 15.86

-30.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.86

$3.41 MYR 13.93

-14.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.23 MYR 0.94

221.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 49.07

$11.80 MYR 48.21

1.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.18

$0.96 MYR 3.94

6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-13.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.19 MYR 37.57

$1.90 MYR 7.78

383.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-6.00%

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

$31.4K MYR 128.2K

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

-31.66%

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

$27.9K MYR 113.9K

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

-25.17%

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

$41.64 MYR 170

$41.82 MYR 171

-0.43%

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

$9.14 MYR 37.34

$9.22 MYR 37.70

-0.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.98 MYR 93.9

$25.53 MYR 104

-9.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.23 MYR 148

$29.85 MYR 122

21.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.74 MYR 23.45

$9.81 MYR 40.08

-41.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.71

$4.64 MYR 18.94

9.27%

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

$190 MYR 777

$143 MYR 586

32.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,842 MYR 28.0K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

10.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 MYR 263

$66.3 MYR 271

-2.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.21 MYR 115

$31.34 MYR 128

-9.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.6 MYR 239

$87.5 MYR 358

-33.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.03 MYR 196

$71.7 MYR 293

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,603

$284 MYR 1,160

38.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 MYR 1,085

$201 MYR 820

32.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 MYR 2,586

$569 MYR 2,326

11.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 MYR 1,933

$387 MYR 1,583

22.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,330 MYR 9,521

$2,088 MYR 8,535

11.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,020 MYR 4,169

$1,510 MYR 6,172

-32.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$877 MYR 3,585

$530 MYR 2,167

65.42%

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 Sentul: July 25, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Sentul and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sentul pays 65% 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: $19.00 in Sentul vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $243 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 65% 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: $392 in Sentul 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 $19.00 in Sentul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $816 per month in Sentul versus $777 in Kuching – a 5% 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 5% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.