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: $809 in Skudai versus $799 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Skudai versus $1,238 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,667 in Skudai versus $1,677 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

$3.47 MYR 13.71

$2.89 MYR 11.42

20.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.65 MYR 73.7

$20.23 MYR 79.9

-7.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.66 MYR 18.40

$4.76 MYR 18.81

-2.10%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 11.77

$2.57 MYR 10.15

15.95%

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

$0.73 MYR 2.89

$0.71 MYR 2.81

2.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.46

$0.30 MYR 1.17

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 MYR 13.84

$2.75 MYR 10.87

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 MYR 19.43

$3.58 MYR 14.13

37.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.40

$1.94 MYR 7.68

-3.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$1.12 MYR 4.44

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.95

$1.07 MYR 4.21

16.82%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.41

$2.18 MYR 8.61

-13.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 MYR 41.65

$9.35 MYR 36.93

12.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 MYR 14.01

$3.74 MYR 14.76

-5.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 MYR 33.02

$8.02 MYR 31.69

4.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 10.96

$3.07 MYR 12.12

-9.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 5.97

$1.11 MYR 4.37

36.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 9.87

$2.53 MYR 9.99

-1.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.74

$1.77 MYR 6.98

-32.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.71

$1.15 MYR 4.56

3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.32

$1.20 MYR 4.72

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.50

$1.67 MYR 6.60

-46.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.03

$0.52 MYR 2.07

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.08

$4.17 MYR 16.47

3.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.38 MYR 56.8

$21.61 MYR 85.4

-33.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 MYR 10.79

$3.84 MYR 15.15

-28.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 MYR 11.61

$3.51 MYR 13.87

-16.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.91

$0.23 MYR 0.90

221.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.95 MYR 47.21

$11.59 MYR 45.77

3.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 MYR 3.99

$0.98 MYR 3.88

3.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.93

$1.09 MYR 4.32

-9.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.51 MYR 37.55

$1.85 MYR 7.31

414.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.85

$0.47 MYR 1.84

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

$31.5K MYR 124.4K

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

-29.50%

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

$27.6K MYR 109.1K

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

-25.90%

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

$40.65 MYR 161

$42.29 MYR 167

-3.88%

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

$9.35 MYR 36.95

$8.83 MYR 34.86

5.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 MYR 89.6

$25.43 MYR 100

-10.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.95 MYR 146

$29.59 MYR 117

24.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 MYR 23.68

$9.61 MYR 37.95

-37.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 MYR 20.05

$4.67 MYR 18.46

8.78%

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

$190 MYR 750

$141 MYR 559

34.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,814 MYR 26.9K

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

11.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.26 MYR 195

$65.0 MYR 257

-24.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.59 MYR 73.5

$32.44 MYR 128

-42.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 MYR 237

$86.6 MYR 342

-30.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.05 MYR 186

$73.0 MYR 288

-35.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,527

$279 MYR 1,103

38.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,071

$203 MYR 802

33.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 MYR 2,507

$564 MYR 2,227

12.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 MYR 1,868

$392 MYR 1,548

20.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,753 MYR 6,923

$2,160 MYR 8,534

-18.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$880 MYR 3,477

$1,556 MYR 6,145

-43.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,192

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kuching: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Skudai and $279 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19 in Skudai vs $20 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $244 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 $1,213 in Skudai and $1,198 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: $386 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 $809 per month in Skudai versus $799 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.