Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibu and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibu and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Sibu versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,227 in Sibu versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,652 in Sibu versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Sibu is roughly 3% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sibu 40% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 MYR 8.84

$2.80 MYR 11.43

-22.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.61 MYR 35.20

$20.41 MYR 83.4

-57.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.59 MYR 18.77

-8.93%

Cappuccino

$2.08 MYR 8.50

$2.58 MYR 10.53

-19.38%

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

$0.63 MYR 2.59

$0.71 MYR 2.90

-11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.30 MYR 1.21

-23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.65

$2.88 MYR 11.77

-1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 MYR 20.77

$3.74 MYR 15.29

35.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 MYR 5.67

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-26.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 MYR 5.53

$1.08 MYR 4.42

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.05 MYR 4.31

9.52%

Eggs

$1.53 MYR 6.24

$2.19 MYR 8.95

-30.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.98 MYR 61.2

$9.58 MYR 39.17

56.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 19.07

$3.84 MYR 15.71

21.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 MYR 24.42

$8.22 MYR 33.60

-27.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.20

$2.98 MYR 12.19

0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.15 MYR 4.69

0.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 MYR 7.87

$2.62 MYR 10.71

-26.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$1.77 MYR 7.24

97.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.15 MYR 4.71

3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 MYR 9.54

$1.24 MYR 5.08

87.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.28

$1.71 MYR 6.98

-38.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$0.52 MYR 2.13

130.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MYR 16.58

$4.19 MYR 17.12

-3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.77 MYR 80.8

$20.46 MYR 83.6

-3.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MYR 5.00

$3.88 MYR 15.86

-68.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 MYR 15.96

$3.41 MYR 13.93

14.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.23 MYR 0.94

213.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.95 MYR 48.84

$11.80 MYR 48.21

1.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.94

$0.96 MYR 3.94

26.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-12.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.70

$1.90 MYR 7.78

205.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-6.00%

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

$35.5K MYR 145.1K

$45.9K MYR 187.6K

-22.66%

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

$31.8K MYR 129.9K

$37.2K MYR 152.2K

-14.69%

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

$42.92 MYR 175

$41.82 MYR 171

2.63%

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

$5.16 MYR 21.11

$9.22 MYR 37.70

-44.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.36 MYR 75.1

$25.53 MYR 104

-28.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.98 MYR 93.9

$29.85 MYR 122

-23.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 MYR 23.69

$9.81 MYR 40.08

-40.88%

Cinema Ticket

$3.22 MYR 13.17

$4.64 MYR 18.94

-30.60%

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

$185 MYR 756

$143 MYR 586

29.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,983 MYR 28.5K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

13.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 MYR 247

$66.3 MYR 271

-8.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.03 MYR 110

$31.34 MYR 128

-13.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 MYR 293

$87.5 MYR 358

-18.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.94 MYR 204

$71.7 MYR 293

-30.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,603

$284 MYR 1,160

38.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,097

$201 MYR 820

33.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 MYR 2,670

$569 MYR 2,326

14.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,899

$387 MYR 1,583

19.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,325 MYR 9,502

$2,088 MYR 8,535

11.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,259 MYR 5,145

$1,510 MYR 6,172

-16.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$489 MYR 1,998

$530 MYR 2,167

-7.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

4.27

-0.47%

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

Last update for Sibu: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Sibu and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Sibu vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $243, with Kuching 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

Sibu vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 8% 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: $392 in Sibu 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 $9.00 in Sibu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Sibu versus $777 in Kuching – a 3% 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 Sibu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sibu 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 3% less than in Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.