Kuching, Malaysia
Editor
March 12, 2023
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and exciting place to work and explore. With its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and low cost of living, Kuching is an ideal spot for digital nomads to call home. The city is home to a variety of attractions, from the Sarawak Cultural Village to the Sarawak River Cruise, and is a great place to explore and experience the local culture. Kuching also offers a wide range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly hostels to luxury hotels, making it easy to find a place to stay that fits your budget. Additionally, the city is home to a number of coworking spaces, providing digital nomads with the perfect place to work and collaborate. With its low cost of living, excellent infrastructure, and vibrant culture, Kuching is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for an exciting and unique place to call home.
Living in Kuching, Malaysia: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
79%
Quality of life -
27%
Cost of living -
79%
Connectivity -
59%
Weather
50
General
| Currency | MYR |
| Population (in millions) | 0.75 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Unranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 40% cheaper |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Batu Lintang, Kuching |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 20 |
| Top selling local beer | Tiger |
| Most popular local dish | Laksa |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching Waterfront, Bako National Park |
| Discount airline | AirAsia |
| Major airline | Malaysia Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Grab |
| Primary train stations | Kuching Sentral, Batu Lintang, and Kota Sentral |
| Primary airports | Kuching International Airport, Sibu Airport, and Miri Airport |
| Best rental car company | Hertz |
| Used car costs | 25000 MYR |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | Lot G-23, Ground Floor, The Spring Shopping Mall, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 10 Mbps |
| Power socket type | G |
| Supply voltage | 230V |
| Best electronics store | Courts |
| Best internet carrier | Unifi |
| Primary cellular carrier | Celcom |
| Average monthly cost for internet | RM100 |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Watsons |
| Best restaurant chain | Borneo Cafe |
| The best grocery store | Giant |
| The most popular fashion brand | Uniqlo |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $14,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $20,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 6% |
| Income tax rate | 0% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 90 days |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | It is not possible to provide an accurate answer without more information about the specific mortgage product and lender |
| Suggested ATM take out | 100 MYR |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | Maybank |
| Average tip in restaurant | 10% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Not very common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 999 (general), 994 (police), 991 (ambulance), 993 (firefighters) |
| Polution per square meter | 545 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | Not available |
| Main religion | Buddhism |
Quality of life
79%
-
56%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
140%
Property to income -
44%
Crime -
78%
Healthcare -
59%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | MYR 1,942 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.09% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | MYR 850 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | MYR 18,667 |
Cost of living
27%
-
Purchasing Power
29%
-
Rent
12%
-
Food
43%
-
Restaurant
21%
-
Workspace
48%
-
Transport
27%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | MYR 1,666.67 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | MYR 1,166.67 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | MYR 3,100.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | MYR 2,533.33 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | MYR 35.00 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | MYR 5.06 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | MYR 3.90 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | MYR 5.70 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | MYR 83.90 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | MYR 2.30 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | MYR 100.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | MYR 8.55 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 15.43 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | MYR 17.95 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | MYR 15.96 |
| Apples (1kg) | MYR 10.77 |
| Oranges (1kg) | MYR 11.00 |
| Potato (1kg) | MYR 2.93 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | MYR 5.77 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | MYR 4.20 |
| Tomato (1kg) | MYR 5.30 |
| Banana (1kg) | MYR 5.33 |
| Onion (1kg) | MYR 4.53 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | MYR 32.88 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | MYR 11.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | MYR 80.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | MYR 17.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | MYR 13.50 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 16.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 2.92 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 1.36 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | MYR 11.75 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | MYR 202.77 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | MYR 0.22 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | MYR 126.79 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | MYR 176.67 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | MYR 35.00 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | MYR 17.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | MYR 5.00 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | MYR 100.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | MYR 2.07 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | MYR 176,250.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | MYR 145,000.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | MYR 4.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | MYR 3.00 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | MYR 8.00 |