😐A single person spends $912 per month in Alor Setar vs $691 in Kharkiv, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,309 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,079 in Kharkiv, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,707 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,467 in Kharkiv, rent included.
😐Alor Setar costs about 32% more than Kharkiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Alor Setar and Kharkiv are more affordable than the global median – Alor Setar34% lower, Kharkiv50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09MYR 8.51
$6.74₴300
-68.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.42MYR 50.5
$31.20₴1,390
-60.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.13MYR 16.81
$5.06₴226
-18.38%
Cappuccino
$1.92MYR 7.80
$1.55₴69.2
23.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53MYR 2.17
$1.07₴47.87
-50.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31MYR 1.28
$0.52₴22.95
-40.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47MYR 10.03
$0.98₴43.72
152.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39MYR 17.84
$1.72₴76.5
155.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61MYR 6.56
$1.12₴50.0
43.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85MYR 3.47
$0.69₴30.78
23.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69MYR 6.88
$1.25₴55.5
35.20%
Eggs
$1.55MYR 6.30
$1.74₴77.7
-10.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.86MYR 64.5
$8.24₴367
92.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.98MYR 20.24
$4.31₴192
15.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04MYR 40.85
$7.40₴330
35.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45MYR 9.96
$1.41₴62.9
73.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26MYR 5.11
$1.57₴70.1
-19.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35MYR 9.55
$1.70₴75.7
38.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27MYR 5.16
$2.07₴92.3
-38.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87MYR 3.55
$0.72₴31.87
20.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MYR 3.27
$0.53₴23.53
50.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78MYR 3.16
$1.23₴54.6
-36.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65MYR 2.64
$0.57₴25.52
14.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MYR 18.91
$2.78₴124
67.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.55MYR 87.7
$4.42₴197
387.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42MYR 9.85
$0.79₴35.21
206.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66MYR 14.90
$1.31₴58.5
179.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MYR 3.13
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.49MYR 50.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21MYR 4.91
$1.38₴61.3
-12.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51MYR 2.09
$0.33₴14.53
54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.70MYR 27.25
$2.31₴103
190.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.02
$1.76₴78.4
-71.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7KMYR 173.6K
$29.6K₴1.3M
44.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMYR 115.0K
$22.4K₴997.4K
26.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.8MYR 211
$97.1₴4,325
-46.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.58MYR 30.85
$6.08₴271
24.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.95MYR 89.3
$7.31₴326
200.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.67MYR 165
$22.27₴992
82.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65MYR 27.03
$15.36₴684
-56.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67MYR 18.99
$4.80₴214
-2.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$175MYR 712
$289₴12.9K
-39.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,032MYR 20.5K
$2,857₴127.3K
76.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2MYR 221
$56.5₴2,519
-4.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.61MYR 145
$40.83₴1,819
-12.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.1MYR 301
$93.6₴4,170
-20.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5MYR 287
$98.0₴4,368
-28.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427MYR 1,735
$249₴11.1K
71.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336MYR 1,367
$144₴6,423
133.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$712MYR 2,895
$520₴23.2K
36.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$505MYR 2,055
$211₴9,385
139.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,038MYR 8,289
$1,058₴47.1K
92.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,146MYR 4,664
$578₴25.7K
98.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,646MYR 6,696
$537₴23.9K
206.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.43
17.89
-75.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alor Setar: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kharkiv: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Alor Setar versus $249 in Kharkiv. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 207% higher in Alor Setar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Alor Setar versus $31.00 in Kharkiv. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Alor Setar vs $163 in Kharkiv – so Kharkiv wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Alor Setar vs Kharkiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alor Setar or Kharkiv?
Alor Setar costs about 32% more than Kharkiv, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Alor Setar and in Kharkiv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,368 per month in Alor Setar and $1,036 in Kharkiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Alor Setar or Kharkiv?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kharkiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Alor Setar compared to Kharkiv?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $912 in Alor Setar and $691 in Kharkiv. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Alor Setar and in Kharkiv?
Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Alor Setar and $289 in Kharkiv. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Alor Setar or in Kharkiv?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $912 in Alor Setar and $691 in Kharkiv, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Alor Setar or Kharkiv?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kharkiv costs $691 versus $912 in Alor Setar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Alor Setar compared to Kharkiv?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Alor Setar or to Kharkiv?
If budget matters most, go with Kharkiv. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alor Setar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Alor Setar vs other spots: cost of living compared