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: $821 in Sibu versus $774 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Sibu versus $1,217 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,653 in Sibu versus $1,660 in Kuching.

Living in Sibu is roughly 6% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sibu 39% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 MYR 8.43

$2.84 MYR 11.41

-26.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.41 MYR 33.74

$20.23 MYR 81.1

-58.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 MYR 16.03

$4.63 MYR 18.56

-13.61%

Cappuccino

$2.13 MYR 8.52

$2.44 MYR 9.79

-12.70%

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

$0.60 MYR 2.39

$0.69 MYR 2.78

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.92

$0.32 MYR 1.29

-28.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 MYR 11.40

$2.76 MYR 11.08

2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 MYR 19.86

$3.56 MYR 14.29

39.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 MYR 5.56

$1.91 MYR 7.64

-27.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 MYR 5.32

$1.12 MYR 4.50

18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.81

$1.03 MYR 4.13

16.50%

Eggs

$1.55 MYR 6.22

$2.17 MYR 8.70

-28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.94 MYR 59.9

$9.74 MYR 39.06

53.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 18.77

$3.90 MYR 15.63

20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.93 MYR 23.78

$8.04 MYR 32.23

-26.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.20

$3.11 MYR 12.49

-2.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.83

$1.11 MYR 4.44

9.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.50

$2.58 MYR 10.34

-27.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 MYR 13.95

$1.78 MYR 7.12

95.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.00

$1.14 MYR 4.57

9.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 MYR 9.27

$1.17 MYR 4.71

97.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 MYR 3.99

$1.74 MYR 6.96

-43.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MYR 4.83

$0.53 MYR 2.14

126.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.94 MYR 15.81

$4.14 MYR 16.60

-4.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.02 MYR 72.3

$21.39 MYR 85.8

-15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MYR 4.88

$3.87 MYR 15.52

-68.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 MYR 16.41

$3.50 MYR 14.05

16.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.92

$0.25 MYR 1.00

192.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MYR 47.46

$11.64 MYR 46.66

1.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.80

$0.91 MYR 3.64

31.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.93

$1.14 MYR 4.59

-14.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 MYR 23.38

$1.83 MYR 7.36

218.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.99

$0.49 MYR 1.97

2.04%

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

$34.7K MYR 139.2K

$45.0K MYR 180.4K

-22.83%

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

$31.4K MYR 125.7K

$36.0K MYR 144.5K

-12.97%

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

$43.93 MYR 176

$41.77 MYR 167

5.17%

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

$5.12 MYR 20.53

$8.95 MYR 35.91

-42.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.25 MYR 73.2

$25.07 MYR 101

-27.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.20 MYR 93.1

$29.40 MYR 118

-21.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.20

$9.60 MYR 38.51

-39.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.09 MYR 12.40

$4.73 MYR 18.98

-34.67%

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

$190 MYR 762

$143 MYR 575

32.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,990 MYR 28.0K

$6,074 MYR 24.4K

15.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 MYR 245

$65.9 MYR 264

-7.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.04 MYR 108

$31.95 MYR 128

-15.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 MYR 289

$85.9 MYR 344

-16.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.2 MYR 201

$73.0 MYR 293

-31.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,540

$276 MYR 1,105

39.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,085

$201 MYR 807

34.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$650 MYR 2,606

$566 MYR 2,269

14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,863

$387 MYR 1,553

19.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,217 MYR 8,890

$2,159 MYR 8,658

2.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$869 MYR 3,484

$1,568 MYR 6,289

-44.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$511 MYR 2,048

$555 MYR 2,226

-7.97%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuching: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Sibu and $276 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuching pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $8.00 in Sibu vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $246, 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kuching earns 9% 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: $384 in Sibu versus $276 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 $8.00 in Sibu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $821 per month in Sibu versus $774 in Kuching – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.