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: $840 in Ulu Tiram versus $802 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,267 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,218 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,694 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,633 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 38% lower, Kuching 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.30

$2.76 MYR 11.19

27.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.65 MYR 75.6

$20.32 MYR 82.4

-8.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.66

$4.81 MYR 19.51

0.83%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$2.53 MYR 10.26

9.88%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.92

$0.76 MYR 3.07

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.29 MYR 1.19

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.47

$2.78 MYR 11.27

55.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 MYR 27.43

$3.61 MYR 14.63

87.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.55

$1.91 MYR 7.76

-2.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 MYR 3.74

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-15.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.22

$1.06 MYR 4.28

21.70%

Eggs

$1.90 MYR 7.72

$2.15 MYR 8.73

-11.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 MYR 43.86

$9.37 MYR 38.01

15.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 MYR 16.06

$3.79 MYR 15.36

4.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 MYR 32.93

$8.01 MYR 32.49

1.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.20

$2.99 MYR 12.14

-7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.14

$1.14 MYR 4.63

32.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.35

$2.59 MYR 10.48

-1.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.12

$1.80 MYR 7.31

-30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.75

$1.11 MYR 4.50

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.37

$1.24 MYR 5.01

6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$1.69 MYR 6.87

-44.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MYR 2.53

$0.53 MYR 2.13

16.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.66

$4.19 MYR 17.00

-1.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.21 MYR 69.8

$21.36 MYR 86.6

-19.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 MYR 11.17

$3.87 MYR 15.69

-28.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.18

$3.41 MYR 13.82

-12.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.23 MYR 0.93

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 48.58

$11.92 MYR 48.32

0.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$0.93 MYR 3.76

9.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$1.11 MYR 4.49

-11.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.35 MYR 37.90

$1.84 MYR 7.45

408.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.02

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$35.3K MYR 143.1K

$44.6K MYR 180.8K

-20.83%

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

$33.1K MYR 134.4K

$37.3K MYR 151.3K

-11.21%

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

$45.96 MYR 186

$41.24 MYR 167

11.45%

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

$9.33 MYR 37.82

$8.92 MYR 36.16

4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.60 MYR 124

$25.42 MYR 103

20.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.60 MYR 152

$29.51 MYR 120

27.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.72 MYR 23.19

$9.77 MYR 39.62

-41.45%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 MYR 20.32

$4.63 MYR 18.77

8.21%

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

$188 MYR 763

$141 MYR 572

33.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,893 MYR 27.9K

$6,063 MYR 24.6K

13.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 MYR 259

$65.8 MYR 267

-2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 MYR 77.0

$31.99 MYR 130

-40.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 MYR 284

$85.9 MYR 348

-18.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.07 MYR 191

$71.5 MYR 290

-34.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,571

$285 MYR 1,156

35.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,083

$205 MYR 830

30.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,581

$556 MYR 2,255

14.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,914

$386 MYR 1,566

22.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 MYR 8,025

$2,144 MYR 8,692

-7.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$971 MYR 3,938

$1,535 MYR 6,224

-36.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$863 MYR 3,500

$552 MYR 2,239

56.36%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Ulu Tiram and $285 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulu Tiram pays 56% 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ulu Tiram pays 56% 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: $387 in Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $840 per month in Ulu Tiram versus $802 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.