Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Kedah: $877 a month against $1,362 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kedah, Malaysia
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kedah
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$877
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,362
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kedah and in Almaty

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kedah and in Almaty actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $877 per month in Kedah vs $1,362 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Kedah $877
  • Almaty $1,362

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Kedah vs $2,151 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Kedah $1,399
  • Almaty $2,151

A family of three spends $1,920 per month in Kedah vs $2,940 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Kedah $1,920
  • Almaty $2,940

Kedah is about 36% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72 MYR 15.14
$13.32 ₸6,066
-72.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.32 MYR 50.2
$44.80 ₸20.4K
-72.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 MYR 18.59
$8.94 ₸4,071
-48.99%
Cappuccino
$2.91 MYR 11.87
$3.37 ₸1,537
-13.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MYR 3.14
$1.32 ₸602
-41.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.59
$0.87 ₸398
-55.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.24 MYR 17.26
$3.15 ₸1,434
34.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 MYR 17.75
$3.95 ₸1,801
10.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MYR 7.66
$1.66 ₸756
13.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 MYR 4.32
$0.86 ₸393
23.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MYR 6.99
$2.01 ₸913
-14.43%
Eggs
$2.19 MYR 8.91
$2.47 ₸1,127
-11.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.55 MYR 55.2
$12.58 ₸5,728
7.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.34 MYR 17.69
$6.57 ₸2,992
-33.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.84 MYR 36.02
$10.61 ₸4,832
-16.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 MYR 11.98
$1.79 ₸816
64.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 MYR 6.65
$2.30 ₸1,046
-29.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 MYR 11.20
$2.96 ₸1,349
-7.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.92
$2.86 ₸1,301
-49.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 MYR 4.48
$0.81 ₸367
35.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 MYR 4.43
$0.59 ₸268
84.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 MYR 4.61
$1.58 ₸721
-28.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MYR 2.34
$0.99 ₸453
-42.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.62 MYR 18.83
$2.74 ₸1,248
68.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.76 MYR 76.5
$11.30 ₸5,147
66.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 MYR 12.15
$1.22 ₸558
144.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 MYR 21.72
$2.46 ₸1,122
116.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 MYR 3.10
$0.26 ₸117
192.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.85 MYR 52.4
$21.98 ₸10.0K
-41.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 MYR 6.76
$1.35 ₸616
22.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 MYR 1.54
$0.70 ₸320
-45.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.29 MYR 29.70
$11.12 ₸5,065
-34.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 MYR 2.46
$0.72 ₸329
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.6K MYR 185.9K
$28.4K ₸12.9M
60.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K MYR 146.1K
$31.8K ₸14.5M
12.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.47 MYR 149
$91.3 ₸41.6K
-60.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 MYR 39.35
$10.60 ₸4,827
-8.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.48 MYR 120
$17.89 ₸8,147
64.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.63 MYR 141
$65.3 ₸29.7K
-46.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.85 MYR 27.92
$27.76 ₸12.6K
-75.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.79 MYR 19.53
$6.47 ₸2,945
-25.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$388 MYR 1,579
$473 ₸215.3K
-18.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MYR 43.4K
$12.3K ₸5.6M
-13.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 MYR 240
$93.1 ₸42.4K
-36.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.76 MYR 142
$47.67 ₸21.7K
-27.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.6 MYR 333
$143 ₸65.0K
-42.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.7 MYR 288
$134 ₸61.3K
-47.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 MYR 1,458
$780 ₸355.5K
-54.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 MYR 1,051
$492 ₸224.1K
-47.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$712 MYR 2,902
$1,419 ₸646.5K
-49.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 MYR 2,472
$934 ₸425.5K
-35.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,930 MYR 7,865
$2,462 ₸1.1M
-21.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,258 MYR 5,124
$1,591 ₸724.9K
-20.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kedah
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,339 MYR 5,456
$873 ₸397.4K
53.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
20.65
-80.44%

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

Last update for Kedah: October 25, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kedah
$258
Almaty
$492 90.8% $234
Groceries & Markets
Kedah
$257
Almaty
$250 2.6% $6.7
Eating Out
Kedah
$113
Almaty
$206 82.7% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
$111
Almaty
$188 70% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
$76
Almaty
$120 58.4% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
$44
Almaty
$78 76.9% $34
Getting Around
Kedah
$19
Almaty
$28 43.4% $8.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Kedah versus $780 in Almaty. 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 53% higher in Kedah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Kedah versus $45 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Kedah vs $250 in Almaty – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Kedah
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
02:35 2:35 AM
23:35 11:35 PM
3 h behind Kedah
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
417,800
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.07 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 455 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.2 USD). 1 EUR = 507 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kedah Almaty 4,720 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kedah
  • Almaty

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kedah vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kedah cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 55%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,316 per month in Kedah and $2,043 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kedah, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $358 there versus $780 in Almaty.
Is eating out cheaper in Kedah or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Kedah and $45 in Almaty. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kedah and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $877 in Kedah and $1,362 in Almaty. That’s a gap of about 55%.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Kedah or in Almaty?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Kedah, where all-in costs run around $877, than in Almaty at $1,362. In Kedah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kedah or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kedah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Kedah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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