Cost of living
Kuching compared to Penang
🏛️
Overview comparison
KuchingPenang
Consumer prices in Kuching are roughly 22% higher than in Penang.
Cost of living
| Item | Kuching | Penang |
|---|
| Total with rent one person | 517 | 525 |
|---|
| Total with rent family | 1,657 | 1,441 |
|---|
| Without rent one person | 390 | 265 |
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| Without rent one family | 1,210 | 988 |
|---|
| Rent & Utilities person | 281 | 217.74 |
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| Rent & Utilities family | 435.1 | 458.14 |
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| Food person | 218 | 194 |
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| Food family | 668 | 481 |
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| Transport person | 31.94 | 19.22 |
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| Transport family | 93.86 | 51.82 |
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| Life expectancy | 84.05 years | 65.66 years |
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Eating Out
| Item | Kuching | Penang |
|---|
| Lunch Menu | 2.51 | 1.97 |
|---|
| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | 18.37 | 13.32 |
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| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | 3.92 | 4.02 |
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| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | 3.03 | 4.01 |
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| Cappuccino | 2.5 | 1.46 |
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| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | 0.93 | 0.49 |
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Rent & Utilities
| Item | Kuching | Penang |
|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city Center, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 380.06 | 288.81 |
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| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 158.25 | 181.21 |
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| 3 bedroom apartment in city Center, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 452.33 | 460.52 |
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| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 337.75 | 316.73 |
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| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 27.07 | 21.53 |
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| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 43.05 | 34.83 |
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| Internet plan, 25 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | 34.67 | 29.29 |
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Transportation
| Item | Kuching | Penang |
|---|
| Local transport ticket | 4.17 | 3.6 |
|---|
| Monthly ticket local transport | 2,101 | 1,074 |
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| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | 1,094 | 768 |
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| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | 0.29 | 1.15 |
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| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 18.2% | 8.15% |
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| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 11.12 | 5.56 |
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| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 0.5 | 0.53 |
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Groceries
| Item | Kuching | Penang |
|---|
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | 1.51 | 1.43 |
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| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | 0.88 | 1.02 |
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| Eggs, x12 | 1.91 | 1.77 |
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| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 14.77 | 12.18 |
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| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 3.01 | 3.12 |
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| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 8.92 | 6.56 |
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| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 1.04 | 1.06 |
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| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | 0.44 | 0.29 |
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Other
| Item | Kuching | Penang |
|---|
| Gym Membership, 1 month | 32.34 | 29.1 |
|---|
| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | 4.13 | 3.24 |
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| Doctors visit | 15.03 | 28.4 |
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| Haircut, simple | 4.83 | 6.86 |
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| Brand Jeans | 82.87 | 39.73 |
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| Brand Sneakers | 78.8 | 60.43 |
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| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | 157.08 | 91.6 |
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| International Primary School, 1 year | 5,840 | 4,899 |
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