😐A single person spends $688 per month in Alor Setar vs $688 in Kharkiv, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,065 in Kharkiv, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,396 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,443 in Kharkiv, rent included.
😐Alor Setar and Kharkiv have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Alor Setar and Kharkiv are more affordable than the global median – Alor Setar48% lower, Kharkiv49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.40MYR 9.79
$7.27₴325
-66.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.57MYR 47.25
$27.31₴1,222
-57.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98MYR 16.26
$6.20₴277
-35.81%
Cappuccino
$1.66MYR 6.78
$1.29₴57.9
28.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MYR 2.24
$0.66₴29.58
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27MYR 1.10
$0.41₴18.33
-34.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.64MYR 14.89
$1.03₴45.97
253.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34MYR 9.54
$1.54₴69.0
51.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MYR 6.65
$1.10₴49.44
48.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83MYR 3.38
$0.62₴27.74
33.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16MYR 4.72
$1.27₴56.8
-8.66%
Eggs
$1.45MYR 5.94
$1.61₴71.8
-9.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.01MYR 49.05
$7.92₴354
51.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01MYR 12.30
$4.05₴181
-25.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.31MYR 33.93
$6.65₴297
24.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.79MYR 11.41
$0.90₴40.09
210.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08MYR 4.40
$1.70₴75.9
-36.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.65
$1.89₴84.8
-26.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13MYR 8.69
$2.19₴98.0
-2.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MYR 3.87
$0.66₴29.35
43.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51MYR 2.06
$0.52₴23.42
-1.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72MYR 2.96
$0.98₴44.02
-26.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.84
$0.59₴26.26
-23.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91MYR 11.87
$2.62₴117
11.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.17MYR 78.3
$4.34₴194
341.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17MYR 4.77
$0.81₴36.37
44.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15MYR 8.77
$1.27₴57.0
69.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MYR 3.04
$0.34₴15.40
117.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70MYR 47.81
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68MYR 2.78
$1.48₴66.4
-54.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MYR 2.18
$0.25₴11.20
112.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.02MYR 28.69
$2.88₴129
143.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 2.01
$1.32₴59.3
-62.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3KMYR 135.8K
$26.7K₴1.2M
24.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KMYR 113.3K
$23.6K₴1.1M
17.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.27MYR 160
$112₴4,989
-64.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.88MYR 28.12
$5.33₴238
29.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.95MYR 110
$6.16₴275
337.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.38MYR 153
$24.73₴1,107
51.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.37MYR 38.28
$15.74₴704
-40.47%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80MYR 11.44
$4.87₴218
-42.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$83.8MYR 342
$358₴16.0K
-76.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,378MYR 22.0K
$3,238₴144.9K
66.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.88MYR 196
$57.9₴2,590
-17.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98MYR 118
$40.63₴1,818
-28.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.9MYR 249
$83.2₴3,722
-26.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8MYR 220
$103₴4,619
-47.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300MYR 1,224
$181₴8,096
65.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MYR 718
$130₴5,818
35.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442MYR 1,805
$356₴15.9K
24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345MYR 1,407
$241₴10.8K
43.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,055MYR 8,393
$1,073₴48.0K
91.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,135MYR 4,637
$572₴25.6K
98.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alor Setar
Kharkiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603MYR 6,549
$517₴23.2K
209.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
17
-75.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alor Setar: July 21, 2026
Last update for Kharkiv: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $300 in Alor Setar versus $181 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 210% higher in Alor Setar. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Alor Setar versus $27.00 in Kharkiv. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Alor Setar vs $155 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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Alor Setar and in Kharkiv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,033 per month in Alor Setar and $1,031 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Alor Setar or in Kharkiv?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Alor Setar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Alor Setar and in Kharkiv?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Alor Setar and $27.00 in Kharkiv. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $688 in Alor Setar and $688 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 $688 versus $688 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