Cost of Living Comparison Between Skudai and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Skudai and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $828 in Skudai versus $782 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,256 in Skudai versus $1,204 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Skudai versus $1,625 in Kuching.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Skudai 38% lower, Kuching 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 MYR 14.29

$2.89 MYR 11.80

20.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.56 MYR 75.9

$20.12 MYR 82.3

-7.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.57

$4.79 MYR 19.59

-0.21%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.21

$2.55 MYR 10.43

17.25%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.91

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.61

$0.30 MYR 1.23

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 MYR 14.09

$2.75 MYR 11.23

25.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 MYR 20.53

$3.64 MYR 14.87

37.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.63

$1.90 MYR 7.79

-1.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$1.10 MYR 4.49

-13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.34

$1.06 MYR 4.32

23.58%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.72

$2.25 MYR 9.18

-16.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 MYR 43.34

$9.44 MYR 38.61

12.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 14.08

$3.74 MYR 15.28

-8.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 MYR 33.52

$7.89 MYR 32.27

3.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.35

$3.03 MYR 12.40

-8.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.23

$1.14 MYR 4.67

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 MYR 10.14

$2.62 MYR 10.71

-5.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.17

$1.77 MYR 7.23

-28.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.80

$1.12 MYR 4.56

4.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.65

$1.20 MYR 4.89

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.84

$1.76 MYR 7.19

-46.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.70

$4.26 MYR 17.41

1.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 MYR 57.9

$20.76 MYR 84.9

-31.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$3.79 MYR 15.51

-27.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.91

$3.42 MYR 13.99

-14.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.23 MYR 0.94

217.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.46

$11.81 MYR 48.28

0.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.19

$0.96 MYR 3.93

6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.04

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-13.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.40 MYR 38.44

$1.91 MYR 7.82

392.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.46 MYR 1.89

8.70%

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

$31.3K MYR 127.9K

$45.8K MYR 187.4K

-31.71%

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

$27.6K MYR 112.8K

$36.2K MYR 148.0K

-23.76%

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

$41.03 MYR 168

$40.93 MYR 167

0.24%

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

$8.90 MYR 36.42

$9.27 MYR 37.91

-3.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.17 MYR 94.8

$25.28 MYR 103

-8.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.67 MYR 150

$29.07 MYR 119

26.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.74 MYR 23.46

$9.96 MYR 40.74

-42.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 MYR 19.74

$4.67 MYR 19.11

3.43%

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

$187 MYR 765

$145 MYR 592

29.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,839 MYR 28.0K

$6,146 MYR 25.1K

11.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.19 MYR 197

$65.1 MYR 266

-25.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.56 MYR 75.9

$31.59 MYR 129

-41.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.2 MYR 238

$86.8 MYR 355

-32.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.25 MYR 193

$72.1 MYR 295

-34.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,585

$279 MYR 1,141

38.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 MYR 1,096

$203 MYR 830

32.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,621

$569 MYR 2,325

12.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 MYR 1,920

$385 MYR 1,575

21.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 MYR 7,955

$2,089 MYR 8,543

-6.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,258 MYR 5,143

$1,518 MYR 6,207

-17.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 MYR 2,214

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.27

-4.68%

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

Last update for Skudai: July 21, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Skudai and $279 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Skudai vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $242 per month, with Skudai cheaper across the board.

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

Skudai vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,242 in Skudai and $1,174 in Kuching to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Skudai versus $279 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 $19.00 in Skudai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $828 per month in Skudai versus $782 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 Skudai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Skudai 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 Skudai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.