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

😐 Solo nomad: Shah Alam is 10.3% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shah Alam is 10.2% cheaper than Kuching without rent, and 6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 MYR 12.61
$2.8 MYR 11.82
6.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.48 MYR 77.9
$20.06 MYR 84.6
-7.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.35 MYR 18.33
$4.69 MYR 19.76
-7.25%
Cappuccino
$2.7 MYR 11.41
$2.57 MYR 10.83
5.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 MYR 3
$0.71 MYR 3
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.65
$0.32 MYR 1.37
21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 MYR 15.15
$2.77 MYR 11.68
29.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 MYR 18.45
$3.58 MYR 15.08
22.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.87
$1.95 MYR 8.24
-4.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 MYR 4.02
$1.13 MYR 4.77
-15.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 MYR 6.27
$1.01 MYR 4.27
47.52%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.99
$2.13 MYR 9
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.22 MYR 60
$9.36 MYR 39.48
51.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 MYR 21.29
$3.85 MYR 16.23
31.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.11 MYR 34.21
$7.88 MYR 33.24
2.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 MYR 11.77
$3.02 MYR 12.72
-7.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MYR 6.35
$1.1 MYR 4.64
37.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 MYR 10.35
$2.62 MYR 11.06
-6.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 MYR 5.24
$1.84 MYR 7.75
-32.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 MYR 4.83
$1.15 MYR 4.85
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.85
$1.22 MYR 5.16
13.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MYR 3.84
$1.68 MYR 7.07
-45.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 MYR 2.19
$0.52 MYR 2.2
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 MYR 17.61
$4.14 MYR 17.47
0.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.09 MYR 76.3
$19.41 MYR 81.8
-6.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 MYR 11.38
$3.72 MYR 15.7
-27.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 MYR 16.53
$3.38 MYR 14.26
15.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 MYR 3.08
$0.25 MYR 1.06
192.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.15 MYR 63.9
$11.57 MYR 48.8
30.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 MYR 4.07
$0.91 MYR 3.83
6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MYR 2.29
$1.14 MYR 4.83
-52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.89 MYR 29.07
$1.94 MYR 8.17
255.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.5 MYR 2.1
$0.5 MYR 2.11
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K MYR 142.8K
$44.9K MYR 189.4K
-24.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K MYR 117.6K
$36.1K MYR 152.3K
-22.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.07 MYR 173
$42.14 MYR 178
-2.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23 MYR 43.14
$8.94 MYR 37.71
14.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.49 MYR 129
$24.81 MYR 105
22.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.06 MYR 165
$29.84 MYR 126
30.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98 MYR 25.24
$9.89 MYR 41.73
-39.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17 MYR 26.02
$4.62 MYR 19.47
33.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$209 MYR 882
$144 MYR 606
45.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,113 MYR 25.8K
$6,013 MYR 25.4K
1.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.07 MYR 207
$66 MYR 278
-25.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 MYR 146
$31.77 MYR 134
9.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.7 MYR 260
$85.6 MYR 361
-27.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.64 MYR 205
$72.2 MYR 304
-32.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$364 MYR 1,536
$278 MYR 1,171
31.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 MYR 1,105
$208 MYR 877
25.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 MYR 2,425
$571 MYR 2,409
0.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MYR 2,010
$390 MYR 1,645
22.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 MYR 6,145
$1,881 MYR 7,934
-22.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,158 MYR 4,883
$1,330 MYR 5,607
-12.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shah Alam
Kuching
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,199 MYR 5,057
$565 MYR 2,384
112.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.27
-2.58%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: October 27, 2025

Last update for Kuching: October 29, 2025

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