How expensive is Kuching compared to the rest of Malaysia?

Kuching ranks #506 out of 577 cities globally. It is 10.0% cheaper than the Malaysia average, based on 3 cities. The rent index is 8.0 and local purchasing power is 46.2.

What is the average rent in Kuching?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Kuching city centre costs approximately MYR 1,489 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to MYR 984 (saving 34%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around MYR 2,643.

Is Kuching affordable to live in?

Kuching is affordable by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is very weak.

🇲🇾 Malaysia · 2026

Custo de Vida em Kuching

10.0% abaixo da média de Malaysia

Classificada em #506 de 577 cidades · Mais cara do que 12.3% das cidades mundialmente

-10.0%

Custo de Vida

-15.8%

Renda

+0.2%

Supermercado

-42.4%

Poder de Compra

Comparado com a média de Malaysia · Ver ranking de Malaysia →

Preços de Renda em Kuching

Apartamento	Centro da Cidade	Fora do Centro	Poupa
1 Quarto	MYR 1,489/mo ≈ $365	MYR 984/mo ≈ $241	34%
3 Quartos	MYR 2,643/mo ≈ $647	MYR 1,956/mo ≈ $479	26%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Multi-Source Comparison

★ Low Confidence

Kuching has a cost of living index of 19.7 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 3 data sources. Expatistan is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

19.7

Index

Sources

6.2

Gap between sources