Cost of Living Comparison Between Seri Iskandar and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Seri Iskandar and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Seri Iskandar versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $878 in Seri Iskandar versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,087 in Seri Iskandar versus $1,633 in Kuching.

Living in Seri Iskandar costs roughly 16% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Seri Iskandar 50% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 MYR 11.12

$2.76 MYR 11.20

-0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.95 MYR 113

$20.32 MYR 82.5

37.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 MYR 17.67

$4.81 MYR 19.53

-9.56%

Cappuccino

$0.91 MYR 3.69

$2.53 MYR 10.27

-64.03%

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

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$0.76 MYR 3.07

-32.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 MYR 1.00

$0.29 MYR 1.20

-13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 MYR 11.60

$2.78 MYR 11.28

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MYR 14.74

$3.61 MYR 14.64

0.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 MYR 6.05

$1.91 MYR 7.77

-21.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 MYR 3.93

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-11.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$1.06 MYR 4.28

-57.55%

Eggs

$1.94 MYR 7.87

$2.15 MYR 8.73

-9.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 MYR 21.65

$9.37 MYR 38.03

-43.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$3.79 MYR 15.37

-49.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.28 MYR 17.35

$8.01 MYR 32.51

-46.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.47

$2.99 MYR 12.14

-30.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.62

$1.14 MYR 4.63

42.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 MYR 7.52

$2.59 MYR 10.49

-28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 MYR 3.71

$1.80 MYR 7.31

-49.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 MYR 2.32

$1.11 MYR 4.51

-48.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.24 MYR 5.01

-20.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.63

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-47.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MYR 2.48

$0.53 MYR 2.13

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.97

$4.19 MYR 17.02

-0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.29 MYR 29.57

$21.36 MYR 86.7

-65.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 MYR 9.36

$3.87 MYR 15.70

-40.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 MYR 14.28

$3.41 MYR 13.83

3.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 MYR 4.36

$0.23 MYR 0.93

369.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 48.72

$11.92 MYR 48.36

0.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 MYR 3.64

$0.93 MYR 3.77

-3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.67

$1.11 MYR 4.49

3.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 MYR 19.62

$1.84 MYR 7.45

162.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$19.1K MYR 77.5K

$44.6K MYR 180.9K

-57.18%

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

$18.7K MYR 75.8K

$37.3K MYR 151.5K

-49.94%

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

$64.9 MYR 263

$41.24 MYR 167

57.40%

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

$9.35 MYR 37.93

$8.92 MYR 36.19

4.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 MYR 65.8

$25.42 MYR 103

-36.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.98 MYR 52.7

$29.51 MYR 120

-56.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 24.03

$9.77 MYR 39.65

-39.41%

Cinema Ticket

$3.56 MYR 14.43

$4.63 MYR 18.78

-23.11%

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

$165 MYR 670

$141 MYR 573

16.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,565 MYR 38.8K

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

57.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.31 MYR 66.2

$65.8 MYR 267

-75.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.03 MYR 32.57

$31.99 MYR 130

-74.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 MYR 239

$85.9 MYR 349

-31.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.83 MYR 145

$71.5 MYR 290

-49.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,549

$285 MYR 1,157

33.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,110

$205 MYR 831

33.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 MYR 2,645

$556 MYR 2,256

17.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 MYR 613

$386 MYR 1,567

-60.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,679 MYR 6,812

$2,144 MYR 8,699

-21.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$873 MYR 3,541

$1,535 MYR 6,229

-43.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$371 MYR 1,507

$552 MYR 2,240

-32.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.27

-53.16%

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

Last update for Seri Iskandar: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Seri Iskandar and $285 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 49% 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 Seri Iskandar vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $153 vs $243, with Seri Iskandar cheaper for home cooking.

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

Seri Iskandar vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Kuching earns 49% 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: $382 in Seri Iskandar versus $285 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Seri Iskandar – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $20.00 in Kuching. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $670 per month in Seri Iskandar 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 $1,200 a month, though Seri Iskandar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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

Safety-wise, Seri Iskandar 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 Seri Iskandar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.