Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Alor Setar Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Alor Setar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $647 per month in Bandung vs $680 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $949 per month in Bandung vs $1,049 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,251 per month in Bandung vs $1,417 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Bandung is about 5% cheaper than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bandung and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Bandung 52% lower, Alor Setar 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.28 Rp 22.8K

$2.33 MYR 9.24

-45.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.42 Rp 168.2K

$11.63 MYR 46.11

-19.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 Rp 61.3K

$4.16 MYR 16.51

-17.55%

Cappuccino

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

$1.62 MYR 6.44

-11.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,684

$0.51 MYR 2.03

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,435

$0.27 MYR 1.06

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 Rp 58.6K

$3.53 MYR 13.99

-7.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 Rp 63.7K

$2.32 MYR 9.22

53.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$1.63 MYR 6.48

-27.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

$0.89 MYR 3.52

20.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 16.8K

$1.20 MYR 4.77

-21.67%

Eggs

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

$1.50 MYR 5.96

5.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 Rp 166.6K

$11.76 MYR 46.62

-20.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

$3.12 MYR 12.37

-3.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 141.5K

$8.27 MYR 32.79

-4.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 42.2K

$2.89 MYR 11.47

-17.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.04 MYR 4.12

27.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 Rp 30.2K

$1.38 MYR 5.47

22.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

$2.09 MYR 8.29

-27.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.4K

$0.88 MYR 3.50

68.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 Rp 47.6K

$0.54 MYR 2.13

394.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

$0.68 MYR 2.70

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,203

$0.46 MYR 1.81

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 Rp 45.8K

$2.81 MYR 11.13

-8.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.35 Rp 399.2K

$19.36 MYR 76.8

15.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 Rp 37.5K

$1.16 MYR 4.61

81.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 Rp 62.3K

$2.10 MYR 8.32

66.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,342

$0.69 MYR 2.75

-56.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.57 Rp 188.8K

$11.76 MYR 46.63

-10.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.74 MYR 2.94

2.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.55 MYR 2.16

29.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 Rp 46.2K

$7.23 MYR 28.68

-64.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

$0.46 MYR 1.84

76.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.4K Rp 435.3M

$33.8K MYR 134.0K

-27.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K Rp 471.5M

$27.9K MYR 110.8K

-5.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$43.12 Rp 770.0K

$39.16 MYR 155

10.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.52 Rp 80.8K

$7.01 MYR 27.80

-35.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.94 Rp 409.7K

$27.13 MYR 108

-15.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.48 Rp 383.6K

$36.34 MYR 144

-40.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.62 Rp 118.3K

$9.33 MYR 37.00

-29.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 Rp 56.4K

$2.76 MYR 10.95

14.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$94.4 Rp 1.7M

$83.4 MYR 331

13.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,577 Rp 135.3M

$5,240 MYR 20.8K

44.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.84 Rp 747.3K

$46.55 MYR 185

-10.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.57 Rp 545.8K

$28.70 MYR 114

6.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 Rp 1.1M

$62.1 MYR 246

-4.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.7 Rp 1.1M

$52.5 MYR 208

21.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 Rp 4.2M

$299 MYR 1,185

-21.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$170 MYR 675

-8.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 Rp 8.0M

$442 MYR 1,752

1.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 Rp 4.4M

$335 MYR 1,328

-26.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$723 Rp 12.9M

$1,912 MYR 7,582

-62.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$900 MYR 3,569

-65.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$284 Rp 5.1M

$1,649 MYR 6,536

-82.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

4.16

119.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bandung: June 2, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $234 in Bandung versus $299 in Alor Setar. 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 481% 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 $9.00 in Bandung versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Bandung vs $209 in Alor Setar – so Alor Setar 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

Bandung vs Alor Setar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alor Setar costs about 5% more than Bandung, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $971 per month in Bandung and $1,021 in Alor Setar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $94.4 per month in Bandung and $83.4 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Alor Setar – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $647 in Bandung and $680 in Alor Setar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bandung costs $647 versus $680 in Alor Setar. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bandung. 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.