Cost of Living Comparison Between Serdang and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Serdang and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $961 in Serdang versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Serdang versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,971 in Serdang versus $1,633 in Kuching.

Living in Serdang is roughly 20% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Serdang 28% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 MYR 18.61

$2.76 MYR 11.20

66.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.00 MYR 114

$20.32 MYR 82.5

37.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.59

$4.81 MYR 19.53

-4.78%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.04

$2.53 MYR 10.27

17.39%

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

$0.90 MYR 3.67

$0.76 MYR 3.07

18.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.14

$0.29 MYR 1.20

82.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.16

$2.78 MYR 11.28

52.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 MYR 23.28

$3.61 MYR 14.64

59.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 MYR 8.17

$1.91 MYR 7.77

5.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.06

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-8.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.97

$1.06 MYR 4.28

62.26%

Eggs

$2.28 MYR 9.24

$2.15 MYR 8.73

6.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.54 MYR 59.0

$9.37 MYR 38.03

55.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 MYR 18.58

$3.79 MYR 15.37

20.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 39.44

$8.01 MYR 32.51

21.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 11.96

$2.99 MYR 12.14

-1.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.31

$1.14 MYR 4.63

36.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 MYR 11.01

$2.59 MYR 10.49

4.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.16

$1.80 MYR 7.31

-15.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.00

$1.11 MYR 4.51

10.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.40

$1.24 MYR 5.01

7.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-27.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.54

$0.53 MYR 2.13

18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 17.15

$4.19 MYR 17.02

0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.36 MYR 78.6

$21.36 MYR 86.7

-9.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 MYR 13.36

$3.87 MYR 15.70

-14.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.98

$3.41 MYR 13.83

29.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$0.23 MYR 0.93

217.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.97 MYR 48.58

$11.92 MYR 48.36

0.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$0.93 MYR 3.77

30.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.61

$1.11 MYR 4.49

2.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MYR 19.31

$1.84 MYR 7.45

158.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.91

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-6.00%

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

$39.3K MYR 159.5K

$44.6K MYR 180.9K

-11.83%

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

$32.2K MYR 130.5K

$37.3K MYR 151.5K

-13.83%

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

$64.3 MYR 261

$41.24 MYR 167

55.82%

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

$11.29 MYR 45.83

$8.92 MYR 36.19

26.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.07 MYR 106

$25.42 MYR 103

2.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.72 MYR 149

$29.51 MYR 120

24.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 MYR 24.13

$9.77 MYR 39.65

-39.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 MYR 21.14

$4.63 MYR 18.78

12.53%

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

$266 MYR 1,079

$141 MYR 573

88.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,356 MYR 38.0K

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

54.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 MYR 242

$65.8 MYR 267

-9.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.67 MYR 153

$31.99 MYR 130

17.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 342

$85.9 MYR 349

-1.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 MYR 324

$71.5 MYR 290

11.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,542

$285 MYR 1,157

33.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,078

$205 MYR 831

29.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$654 MYR 2,655

$556 MYR 2,256

17.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MYR 1,923

$386 MYR 1,567

22.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,999 MYR 8,111

$2,144 MYR 8,699

-6.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$986 MYR 4,002

$1,535 MYR 6,229

-35.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,002 MYR 4,068

$552 MYR 2,240

81.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.27

4.68%

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

Last update for Serdang: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Serdang and $285 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Serdang pays 82% 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: $28.00 in Serdang vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $243 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

Serdang vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Serdang pays 82% more on average, 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: $380 in Serdang 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 $28.00 in Serdang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $961 per month in Serdang versus $802 in Kuching – a 20% 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 Serdang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Serdang 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 20% less than in Serdang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.