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: $842 in Ulu Tiram versus $799 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,284 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,238 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,725 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,677 in Kuching.

Living in Ulu Tiram is roughly 5% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulu Tiram 37% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.21

$2.89 MYR 11.42

24.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.82 MYR 74.4

$20.23 MYR 79.9

-6.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$4.76 MYR 18.81

-3.57%

Cappuccino

$2.72 MYR 10.73

$2.57 MYR 10.15

5.84%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.69

$0.71 MYR 2.81

-4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$0.30 MYR 1.17

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 MYR 17.24

$2.75 MYR 10.87

58.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 MYR 26.72

$3.58 MYR 14.13

89.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$1.94 MYR 7.68

-4.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.94

$1.12 MYR 4.44

-10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$1.07 MYR 4.21

20.56%

Eggs

$1.82 MYR 7.18

$2.18 MYR 8.61

-16.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 MYR 42.66

$9.35 MYR 36.93

15.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 MYR 16.08

$3.74 MYR 14.76

8.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 31.19

$8.02 MYR 31.69

-1.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 10.94

$3.07 MYR 12.12

-9.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.81

$1.11 MYR 4.37

32.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.12

$2.53 MYR 9.99

1.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.78

$1.77 MYR 6.98

-31.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.15 MYR 4.56

2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.49

$1.20 MYR 4.72

15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.46

$1.67 MYR 6.60

-47.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.50

$0.52 MYR 2.07

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.52

$4.17 MYR 16.47

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.47 MYR 69.0

$21.61 MYR 85.4

-19.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$3.84 MYR 15.15

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.87

$3.51 MYR 13.87

-14.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.67

$0.23 MYR 0.90

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.08

$11.59 MYR 45.77

2.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$0.98 MYR 3.88

1.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$1.09 MYR 4.32

-5.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.48 MYR 37.46

$1.85 MYR 7.31

412.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$0.47 MYR 1.84

6.38%

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

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

$44.7K MYR 176.5K

-21.93%

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

$33.4K MYR 132.1K

$37.3K MYR 147.3K

-10.33%

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

$45.05 MYR 178

$42.29 MYR 167

6.53%

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

$9.33 MYR 36.84

$8.83 MYR 34.86

5.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 MYR 120

$25.43 MYR 100

19.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.32 MYR 143

$29.59 MYR 117

22.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 23.95

$9.61 MYR 37.95

-36.94%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.04

$4.67 MYR 18.46

8.57%

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

$189 MYR 745

$141 MYR 559

33.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,784 MYR 26.8K

$6,132 MYR 24.2K

10.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 256

$65.0 MYR 257

-0.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.50 MYR 73.1

$32.44 MYR 128

-42.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 MYR 275

$86.6 MYR 342

-19.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.81 MYR 189

$73.0 MYR 288

-34.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 MYR 1,514

$279 MYR 1,103

37.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,070

$203 MYR 802

33.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,543

$564 MYR 2,227

14.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,849

$392 MYR 1,548

19.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,744 MYR 6,888

$2,160 MYR 8,534

-19.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$874 MYR 3,452

$1,556 MYR 6,145

-43.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$870 MYR 3,438

$555 MYR 2,192

56.88%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kuching: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $383 in Ulu Tiram and $279 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 57% 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 in Ulu Tiram vs $20 in Kuching for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $244 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ulu Tiram pays 57% more on average, 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: $383 in Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $842 per month in Ulu Tiram versus $799 in Kuching – a 5% 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 5% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.