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: $677 in Seri Iskandar versus $782 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $875 in Seri Iskandar versus $1,204 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,073 in Seri Iskandar versus $1,625 in Kuching.

Living in Seri Iskandar costs roughly 14% less than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Seri Iskandar 49% lower, Kuching 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 MYR 11.22

$2.89 MYR 11.79

-5.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.09 MYR 115

$20.12 MYR 82.2

39.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.50 MYR 18.42

$4.79 MYR 19.58

-6.05%

Cappuccino

$0.90 MYR 3.66

$2.55 MYR 10.42

-64.71%

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

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.12

$0.30 MYR 1.23

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$2.75 MYR 11.22

1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MYR 14.11

$3.64 MYR 14.86

-5.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.90 MYR 7.78

-17.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 MYR 3.77

$1.10 MYR 4.49

-16.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$1.06 MYR 4.31

-57.55%

Eggs

$1.99 MYR 8.14

$2.25 MYR 9.18

-11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.35 MYR 21.88

$9.44 MYR 38.60

-43.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.95 MYR 7.96

$3.74 MYR 15.28

-47.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.16 MYR 17.02

$7.89 MYR 32.25

-47.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.42

$3.03 MYR 12.39

-32.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 MYR 6.60

$1.14 MYR 4.67

41.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$2.62 MYR 10.71

-28.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 MYR 4.03

$1.77 MYR 7.23

-44.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 MYR 2.35

$1.12 MYR 4.56

-48.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MYR 3.77

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 MYR 3.95

$1.76 MYR 7.18

-44.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MYR 2.53

$0.52 MYR 2.14

19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 MYR 16.57

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-4.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.49 MYR 30.62

$20.76 MYR 84.9

-63.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 MYR 9.50

$3.79 MYR 15.51

-38.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MYR 14.65

$3.42 MYR 13.99

4.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 MYR 4.28

$0.23 MYR 0.94

356.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.58 MYR 47.34

$11.81 MYR 48.26

-1.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 MYR 3.66

$0.96 MYR 3.92

-6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 MYR 19.56

$1.91 MYR 7.82

150.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$0.46 MYR 1.88

8.70%

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

$18.6K MYR 76.0K

$45.8K MYR 187.3K

-59.42%

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

$18.5K MYR 75.7K

$36.2K MYR 148.0K

-48.84%

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

$65.4 MYR 267

$40.93 MYR 167

59.66%

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

$9.56 MYR 39.08

$9.27 MYR 37.90

3.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.23 MYR 66.3

$25.28 MYR 103

-35.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.83 MYR 52.5

$29.07 MYR 119

-55.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 MYR 24.75

$9.96 MYR 40.73

-39.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.52 MYR 14.39

$4.67 MYR 19.11

-24.63%

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

$163 MYR 668

$145 MYR 592

12.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,314 MYR 38.1K

$6,146 MYR 25.1K

51.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.37 MYR 66.9

$65.1 MYR 266

-74.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.07 MYR 33.00

$31.59 MYR 129

-74.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.3 MYR 242

$86.8 MYR 355

-31.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.54 MYR 145

$72.1 MYR 295

-50.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 MYR 1,591

$279 MYR 1,140

39.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 MYR 1,120

$203 MYR 830

34.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,642

$569 MYR 2,325

13.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 MYR 634

$385 MYR 1,575

-59.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 MYR 9,030

$2,089 MYR 8,540

5.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,233 MYR 5,041

$1,518 MYR 6,205

-18.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$364 MYR 1,489

$541 MYR 2,213

-32.75%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $389 in Seri Iskandar and $279 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 $154 vs $242, 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 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Kuching. 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: $389 in Seri Iskandar versus $279 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 $677 per month in Seri Iskandar versus $782 in Kuching – a 16% 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 16% less than in Kuching. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.