Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $939 in Ulu Tiram versus $870 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,398 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,789 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,926 in Kuching.

Living in Ulu Tiram is roughly 8% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulu Tiram 31% lower, Kuching 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 MYR 15.32

$3.40 MYR 13.90

10.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.40 MYR 87.6

$24.39 MYR 99.8

-12.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 20.06

$4.95 MYR 20.25

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.17

$3.21 MYR 13.14

-7.48%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$0.75 MYR 3.09

4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.36 MYR 1.47

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.55 MYR 18.62

$4.77 MYR 19.50

-4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.29 MYR 25.75

$6.11 MYR 25.02

2.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MYR 6.97

$2.38 MYR 9.75

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.27 MYR 5.19

-18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.17 MYR 4.78

23.08%

Eggs

$1.75 MYR 7.16

$2.49 MYR 10.21

-29.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 MYR 39.69

$11.41 MYR 46.71

-14.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$4.30 MYR 17.60

-1.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 39.40

$9.75 MYR 39.91

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 MYR 13.67

$3.16 MYR 12.93

5.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.15

$1.34 MYR 5.48

30.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.47 MYR 10.12

7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.62

$1.79 MYR 7.34

-9.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.98

$1.34 MYR 5.50

8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.89

$1.15 MYR 4.71

46.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.65

$1.64 MYR 6.70

-15.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.26

$0.54 MYR 2.23

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.81

$4.73 MYR 19.38

-8.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 MYR 69.4

$22.31 MYR 91.3

-23.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 12.15

$4.11 MYR 16.84

-27.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 MYR 12.73

$5.13 MYR 21.01

-39.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.58 MYR 2.39

18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.25 MYR 50.2

$12.49 MYR 51.1

-1.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 MYR 5.10

$0.94 MYR 3.83

32.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.46

$1.20 MYR 4.92

-70.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.15

$8.44 MYR 34.56

10.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$0.81 MYR 3.32

-3.70%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.6K

$41.2K MYR 168.5K

0.07%

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

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

$36.5K MYR 149.4K

-4.05%

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

$53.0 MYR 217

$35.66 MYR 146

48.51%

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

$8.22 MYR 33.65

$10.22 MYR 41.83

-19.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 MYR 119

$25.15 MYR 103

15.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.66 MYR 166

$29.90 MYR 122

35.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 MYR 24.10

$12.21 MYR 49.99

-51.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.03

$5.05 MYR 20.67

-3.17%

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

$166 MYR 680

$136 MYR 555

22.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,502 MYR 18.4K

$7,186 MYR 29.4K

-37.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.6 MYR 273

$63.9 MYR 262

4.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.16 MYR 70.2

$37.13 MYR 152

-53.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 MYR 317

$89.5 MYR 366

-13.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.28 MYR 198

$64.5 MYR 264

-25.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 MYR 1,617

$360 MYR 1,472

9.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 MYR 1,224

$242 MYR 991

23.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 MYR 2,808

$642 MYR 2,629

6.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 MYR 1,995

$475 MYR 1,944

2.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 MYR 8,244

$2,104 MYR 8,611

-4.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 MYR 4,678

$1,527 MYR 6,249

-25.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 MYR 3,491

$536 MYR 2,194

59.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.37

-7.09%

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

Last update for Ulu Tiram: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kuching: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Ulu Tiram and $360 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Ulu Tiram vs $24.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $274 per month, with Ulu Tiram 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

Ulu Tiram vs Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Ulu Tiram, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $395 in Ulu Tiram versus $360 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 $24.00 versus $21.00 in Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $939 per month in Ulu Tiram versus $870 in Kuching – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $870 in Kuching versus $939 in Ulu Tiram, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Ulu Tiram. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ulu Tiram, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ulu Tiram 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 8% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.