Transportation
- Highway Access
- Pan-Borneo Highway connects Kuching to Sibu and Miri
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Kuching Sentral (Bus terminal for regional travel); no urban rail system
- Public Transport Passes
- Kuching Hydrogen Bus (Free service for city routes via app)
- Regional Travel
- Express buses from Kuching Sentral to Pontianak (Indonesia) or Miri
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab is the primary service; AirAsia Ride is a reliable secondary
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beam e-scooters available in the Waterfront area; RM 0.60 per minute
- Best Beach Nearby
- Damai Beach and Santubong (approx. 45-minute drive from city center)
- Top Regional Airline
- AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS)
- Top International Airline
- Scoot (direct flights to Singapore), AirAsia (to KL/Jakarta)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital or Borneo Medical Centre (High private standard)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Shala (Jalan Song) and Prana Yoga @ Green Heights
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Level Up Fitness (Multiple locations like VivaCity Mall); RM 150/month
- Laundry Services
- Wash Studio (Self-service laundromats available in Galacity and Saradise)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and FoodPanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sarawak Laksa (Poh Lam at Chong Choon Cafe) and Kolo Mee (Oriental Park)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Beyond Veggie by Secret Recipe and Life Cafe (various locations)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Sunny Hill Ice Cream and Kek Lapis (Sarawak Layer Cake) at Mira Cake House
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Everrise Supermarket and Medan Niaga Satok (Wet market)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee Malaysia and Lazada Malaysia
- Grocery Delivery
- GrabMart and Lotus's via FoodPanda
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Wayang Street area and Jalan Carpenter for hidden bars
- Local Brewery
- No commercial breweries, but Tuak (local rice wine) is staples at bars like Junk or MonkeeBar
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Shop (Galacity) and Cork & Bottle
- Street Food Stalls
- Top 10 Food Court (iCom Square) and Siniawan Night Market (Weekends)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Nu Er Hong (Chinese/Fusion) and Zinc Restaurant & Bar (Mediterranean)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and The Astana
- Museums & Art Venues
- Borneo Cultures Museum (Second largest in SE Asia); Entry RM 50 for foreigners
- Historical Sites
- Fort Margherita and The Brooke Gallery
- Religious Sites
- Tua Pek Kong Temple and Kuching City Mosque (Pink Mosque)
- Annual Events
- Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) held in July at Cultural Village
- Cultural Districts
- Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street (Old Chinatown)
- Theater Venues
- Old Court House and Sarawak Cultural Village amphitheater
- Local Markets
- Satok Sunday Market (Open Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning)
- Music Scene
- Live jazz and local bands at Kilindini and The Granary
- Street Art
- The Orangutan Murals by Ernest Zacharevic near Wayang Street
- Cooking Classes
- Bumbu Cookery Class (RM 250 including market tour)
- Art Galleries
- Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall
- Historic Buildings
- The Round Tower and The Pavilion (Textile Museum)
- Local Heritage
- White Rajah history and Iban longhouse culture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bako National Park (Proboscis monkeys and sea stacks, 45 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Kubah National Park and Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (Orangutans)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Kuching Waterfront Esplanade and Friendship Park (Ma-Kasih)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top floor of HIKMAH Exchange or the S-bridge (Darul Hana Bridge)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Paya Maga and Gunung Santubong foothills
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Permai Rainforest Resort (Designated BBQ and camp areas)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- PosLaju, J&T Express, and DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- VivaCity Megamall and Plaza Merdeka have numerous repair kiosks
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sarawak Table Tennis Association (STTA) training center
- Language Classes
- Iban language workshops at Sarawak Cultural Village or Malay classes at UiTM
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Pustaka Negeri Sarawak (State Library) at Petra Jaya
- Community Centers
- MBKS Community Centre and Aeroville Mall community spaces
- Gaming Lounges
- Gizmo Gamers in OneJaya Mall
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not available; gambling is restricted (Nearest is Genting Highlands near KL)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. RM 8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = RM 340,000 / $72,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. RM 6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = RM 240,000 / $51,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. RM 8,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = RM 480,000 / $102,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. RM 5,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = RM 330,000 / $70,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. RM 7,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = RM 600,000 / $127,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. RM 5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = RM 400,000 / $85,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 24% standard rate; SME rate 15-17% on first RM 600k
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Malaysia does not tax dividends at source)
- Tax System
- Territorial basis (Personal income from outside Malaysia is generally exempt)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (for income above RM 2,000,000)
- VAT
- 6% Service Tax / 5-10% Sales Tax (SST system)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- Assessment Rates (Cukai Pintu) paid semi-annually to local councils
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty (RTD) ranging from 1% to 4% based on price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- DE Rantau Nomad Pass (0-15% tax depending on residency status and income source)
Essentials
- City
- Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
- Population
- Approximately 600,000
- Internet Speed
- Fixed lines average 100 Mbps; 5G coverage available in city center (300+ Mbps)
- Currency & Banking
- Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). 1 USD ≈ 4.70 MYR, 1 EUR ≈ 5.10 MYR
- Tap Water
- Not safe for direct consumption; use filtered or boiled water
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- CelcomDigi, Maxis (Hotlink), and Tune Talk. Approx. RM 35 ($7.50) for 40GB monthly data
- Banking for Expats
- Maybank, CIMB, and standard use of Wise or Revolut for transfers
- Accommodation
- Modern condos via Airbnb or Agoda; serviced apartments like Tropics City
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly friendly; GrabPay, Touch 'n Go eWallet, and DuitNow QR accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local Facebook groups (Kuching Apartment for Rent); RM 1,800 - RM 3,000/month
- Budget Accommodation
- The Waterfront Hotel (RM 250/night) or Le Nomade Hostel (RM 50/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kuching Waterfront (Main Bazaar) and Padungan Street
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Saradise (modern lifestyle hub) or Galacity for amenities and walking distance to cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- iCom Square (The 1985) or MaGIC Sarawak at Borneo744. Day pass RM 30 ($6)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Commons (Old Court House) has large tables and WiFi; Earthlings Coffee Workshop HQ
- Networking Events
- TEGAS Digital Village events and Digital Nomad meetups via 'Expats in Kuching' Facebook group
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Kuching and Friday night socials at MonkeeBar