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: $807 in Skudai versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Skudai versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,639 in Skudai versus $1,633 in Kuching.

Living in Skudai is roughly 1% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.31

$2.76 MYR 11.20

27.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 MYR 77.8

$20.32 MYR 82.5

-5.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.59

$4.81 MYR 19.53

0.42%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.06

$2.53 MYR 10.27

17.39%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$0.76 MYR 3.07

-9.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.29 MYR 1.20

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 MYR 14.66

$2.78 MYR 11.28

29.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 MYR 20.70

$3.61 MYR 14.64

41.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.42

$1.91 MYR 7.77

-4.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.10

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-7.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.08

$1.06 MYR 4.28

17.92%

Eggs

$1.80 MYR 7.29

$2.15 MYR 8.73

-16.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 MYR 43.91

$9.37 MYR 38.03

15.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 13.97

$3.79 MYR 15.37

-9.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.31 MYR 33.72

$8.01 MYR 32.51

3.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.91

$2.99 MYR 12.14

-10.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.15

$1.14 MYR 4.63

32.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.45

$2.59 MYR 10.49

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.04

$1.80 MYR 7.31

-31.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.11 MYR 4.51

6.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.57

$1.24 MYR 5.01

10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.81

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-44.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.53 MYR 2.13

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.90

$4.19 MYR 17.02

-0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 MYR 58.6

$21.36 MYR 86.7

-32.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.26

$3.87 MYR 15.70

-28.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 12.07

$3.41 MYR 13.83

-12.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.23 MYR 0.93

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.65 MYR 47.28

$11.92 MYR 48.36

-2.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$0.93 MYR 3.77

5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.98

$1.11 MYR 4.49

-11.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.51 MYR 38.60

$1.84 MYR 7.45

416.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-2.00%

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

$31.5K MYR 128.0K

$44.6K MYR 180.9K

-29.24%

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

$27.8K MYR 112.7K

$37.3K MYR 151.5K

-25.60%

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

$41.22 MYR 167

$41.24 MYR 167

-0.05%

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

$8.87 MYR 35.98

$8.92 MYR 36.19

-0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.56 MYR 91.6

$25.42 MYR 103

-11.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 MYR 150

$29.51 MYR 120

25.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 MYR 24.30

$9.77 MYR 39.65

-38.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 MYR 19.82

$4.63 MYR 18.78

5.40%

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

$189 MYR 766

$141 MYR 573

33.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,831 MYR 27.7K

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

12.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.40 MYR 196

$65.8 MYR 267

-26.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.80 MYR 76.3

$31.99 MYR 130

-41.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.5 MYR 241

$85.9 MYR 349

-30.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.35 MYR 192

$71.5 MYR 290

-33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,571

$285 MYR 1,157

35.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,082

$205 MYR 831

30.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,590

$556 MYR 2,256

14.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MYR 1,908

$386 MYR 1,567

21.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,940 MYR 7,872

$2,144 MYR 8,699

-9.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,095 MYR 4,443

$1,535 MYR 6,229

-28.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MYR 2,240

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Skudai and $285 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 $219 vs $243 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,211 in Skudai and $1,203 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: $387 in Skudai versus $285 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 $807 per month in Skudai versus $802 in Kuching – a 1% 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 1% less than in Skudai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.