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: $857 in Ulu Tiram versus $777 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,302 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,228 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,747 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,678 in Kuching.

Living in Ulu Tiram is roughly 10% more expensive than in Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulu Tiram 36% lower, Kuching 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 MYR 14.35

$2.80 MYR 11.42

25.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.02 MYR 77.7

$20.41 MYR 83.3

-6.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.78

$4.59 MYR 18.75

5.45%

Cappuccino

$2.80 MYR 11.44

$2.58 MYR 10.52

8.53%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.71 MYR 2.89

-4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.30 MYR 1.21

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.81

$2.88 MYR 11.76

51.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.46 MYR 26.40

$3.74 MYR 15.27

72.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.41

$1.89 MYR 7.71

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.08 MYR 4.42

-6.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.29

$1.05 MYR 4.30

22.86%

Eggs

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$2.19 MYR 8.94

-17.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.79 MYR 44.04

$9.58 MYR 39.13

12.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 MYR 16.54

$3.84 MYR 15.69

5.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 MYR 33.78

$8.22 MYR 33.57

0.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.99

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-9.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.21

$1.15 MYR 4.69

32.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 MYR 9.96

$2.62 MYR 10.70

-6.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.07

$1.77 MYR 7.24

-29.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-1.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.69

$1.24 MYR 5.08

12.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.71

$1.71 MYR 6.98

-46.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MYR 2.61

$0.52 MYR 2.13

23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.85

$4.19 MYR 17.11

-1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.83 MYR 68.7

$20.46 MYR 83.5

-17.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 MYR 11.65

$3.88 MYR 15.85

-26.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.40

$3.41 MYR 13.91

-10.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.23 MYR 0.94

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 48.22

$11.80 MYR 48.17

0.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.17

$0.96 MYR 3.94

6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.03

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-12.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.34 MYR 38.12

$1.90 MYR 7.77

391.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.91

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-6.00%

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

$35.3K MYR 144.2K

$45.9K MYR 187.4K

-23.05%

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

$33.5K MYR 136.7K

$37.2K MYR 152.1K

-10.12%

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

$45.37 MYR 185

$41.82 MYR 171

8.49%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.42

$9.22 MYR 37.67

-3.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 MYR 124

$25.53 MYR 104

19.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.52 MYR 149

$29.85 MYR 122

22.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 24.40

$9.81 MYR 40.05

-39.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 MYR 20.74

$4.64 MYR 18.93

9.48%

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

$190 MYR 774

$143 MYR 585

32.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,837 MYR 27.9K

$6,166 MYR 25.2K

10.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 MYR 262

$66.3 MYR 271

-3.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.86 MYR 77.0

$31.34 MYR 128

-39.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.0 MYR 290

$87.5 MYR 357

-18.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.40 MYR 189

$71.7 MYR 293

-35.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,594

$284 MYR 1,159

37.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,109

$201 MYR 819

35.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,620

$569 MYR 2,324

12.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 MYR 1,917

$387 MYR 1,582

21.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,064 MYR 8,428

$2,088 MYR 8,527

-1.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,147 MYR 4,682

$1,510 MYR 6,167

-24.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$861 MYR 3,516

$530 MYR 2,165

62.37%

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 Ulu Tiram: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kuching: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $390 in Ulu Tiram and $284 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 62% 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: $19.00 in Ulu Tiram vs $20.00 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $243 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 62% 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: $390 in Ulu Tiram versus $284 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 Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $857 per month in Ulu Tiram versus $777 in Kuching – a 10% 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 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 10% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.