Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Setia Alam versus $778 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,395 in Setia Alam versus $1,219 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,872 in Setia Alam versus $1,661 in Kuching.

Living in Setia Alam is roughly 18% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Setia Alam 31% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 MYR 18.74

$2.79 MYR 11.41

64.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 MYR 97.4

$19.69 MYR 80.5

20.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.85 MYR 19.84

-3.51%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.20

$2.55 MYR 10.43

16.86%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.42

$0.72 MYR 2.93

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.32 MYR 1.32

15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.33 MYR 17.70

$2.85 MYR 11.67

51.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 MYR 24.63

$3.69 MYR 15.09

63.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.15

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-6.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MYR 2.86

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-38.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$1.01 MYR 4.13

-2.97%

Eggs

$1.65 MYR 6.75

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-24.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.78 MYR 19.56

$9.41 MYR 38.48

-49.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 MYR 16.33

$3.73 MYR 15.24

6.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.52 MYR 38.95

$8.24 MYR 33.72

15.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.44

$3.04 MYR 12.42

-56.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.42

$1.11 MYR 4.56

41.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$2.59 MYR 10.60

-48.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$1.77 MYR 7.26

-21.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.00

$1.11 MYR 4.53

9.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.42

$1.23 MYR 5.01

8.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MYR 2.34

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-66.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.49 MYR 1.99

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 MYR 17.23

$4.29 MYR 17.56

-1.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.11 MYR 78.2

$21.05 MYR 86.1

-9.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 MYR 13.14

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 MYR 17.24

$3.47 MYR 14.20

21.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.25 MYR 1.02

192.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 MYR 47.92

$11.60 MYR 47.45

1.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MYR 4.78

$0.97 MYR 3.97

20.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 MYR 18.89

$1.92 MYR 7.86

140.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.46 MYR 1.90

8.70%

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

$40.6K MYR 166.0K

$46.2K MYR 189.2K

-12.24%

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

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

$37.4K MYR 152.8K

-13.84%

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

$59.1 MYR 242

$42.30 MYR 173

39.65%

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

$10.73 MYR 43.87

$8.93 MYR 36.53

20.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.60 MYR 105

$25.54 MYR 104

0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 MYR 224

$29.54 MYR 121

85.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$10.01 MYR 40.95

-76.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.62

$4.68 MYR 19.15

7.69%

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

$196 MYR 800

$144 MYR 587

36.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,524 MYR 39.0K

$6,063 MYR 24.8K

57.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 MYR 244

$66.3 MYR 271

-9.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.82 MYR 102

$32.21 MYR 132

-22.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 MYR 352

$86.7 MYR 354

-0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 MYR 220

$71.2 MYR 291

-24.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 MYR 2,026

$284 MYR 1,163

74.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MYR 1,247

$207 MYR 847

47.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 MYR 3,422

$560 MYR 2,289

49.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 MYR 2,185

$384 MYR 1,570

39.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,029 MYR 8,300

$2,033 MYR 8,314

-0.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,175 MYR 4,806

$1,515 MYR 6,195

-22.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,149 MYR 4,698

$531 MYR 2,171

116.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

4.27

-3.51%

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

Last update for Setia Alam: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Setia Alam and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Setia Alam pays 116% 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: $24.00 in Setia Alam vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $242, with Setia Alam 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

Setia Alam vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 116% higher in Setia Alam, 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: $495 in Setia Alam 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 $24.00 in Setia Alam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Setia Alam versus $778 in Kuching – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $778 in Kuching versus $918 in Setia Alam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Setia Alam. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Setia Alam 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 18% less than in Setia Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.