Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Matagalpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Matagalpa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Kedah versus $842 in Matagalpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,344 in Kedah versus $1,258 in Matagalpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,819 in Kedah versus $1,674 in Matagalpa.

Living in Kedah is roughly 3% more expensive than Matagalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kedah 35% lower, Matagalpa 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 MYR 12.25

$4.80 NIO 176

-37.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.42 MYR 86.9

$24.91 NIO 912

-14.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 MYR 17.36

$6.80 NIO 249

-37.06%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 11.96

$2.41 NIO 88.4

22.41%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.85 NIO 31.09

-12.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.48

$0.46 NIO 16.96

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.84

$1.19 NIO 43.52

269.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 MYR 18.19

$2.01 NIO 73.7

122.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.34

$1.19 NIO 43.53

52.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 MYR 3.67

$1.53 NIO 56.0

-40.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.92

$1.57 NIO 57.5

-22.93%

Eggs

$2.11 MYR 8.58

$2.19 NIO 80.2

-3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 MYR 62.2

$1.90 NIO 69.7

706.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 MYR 20.27

$4.11 NIO 151

21.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 MYR 59.5

$6.78 NIO 248

116.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.70

$3.88 NIO 142

-25.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.83

$0.91 NIO 33.17

30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.60

$1.76 NIO 64.4

48.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MYR 8.82

$2.28 NIO 83.4

-4.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.83

$1.13 NIO 41.32

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$2.18 NIO 80.0

-46.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 MYR 3.92

$0.68 NIO 24.81

42.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$0.99 NIO 36.10

-51.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.76

$2.64 NIO 96.5

56.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.59 MYR 79.5

$9.90 NIO 362

97.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.70

$1.20 NIO 43.78

120.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 MYR 13.67

$2.19 NIO 80.3

53.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$0.49 NIO 17.82

38.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.77 MYR 47.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.84 NIO 30.71

-17.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.91 NIO 33.18

-48.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 MYR 28.34

$6.69 NIO 245

4.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.00

$1.37 NIO 50.1

-64.23%

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

$33.5K MYR 135.9K

$23.3K NIO 854.5K

43.51%

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

$27.4K MYR 111.0K

$26.4K NIO 967.8K

3.53%

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

$38.49 MYR 156

$52.6 NIO 1,928

-26.88%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.52

$17.24 NIO 632

-42.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.96 MYR 48.55

$35.43 NIO 1,297

-66.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.49 MYR 148

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 MYR 23.76

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 MYR 11.41

$8.16 NIO 299

-65.56%

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

$238 MYR 964

$99.9 NIO 3,658

137.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,215 MYR 25.2K

$5,958 NIO 218.2K

4.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 225

$75.9 NIO 2,781

-27.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.32 MYR 115

$72.1 NIO 2,639

-60.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 MYR 252

$133 NIO 4,854

-53.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.5 MYR 213

$110 NIO 4,035

-52.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,541

$157 NIO 5,735

142.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 MYR 1,094

$267 NIO 9,764

1.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,622

$551 NIO 20.2K

17.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,886

$369 NIO 13.5K

26.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,964 MYR 7,968

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MYR 3,882

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,322 MYR 5,363

$100 NIO 3,665

1220.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

10.25

-59.41%

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

Last update for Kedah: June 7, 2026

Last update for Matagalpa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Kedah and $157 in Matagalpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 1221% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Kedah vs $25.00 in Matagalpa. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $185, with Matagalpa cheaper for home cooking.

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 Matagalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kedah and Matagalpa differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($868 vs $842 including rent). Matagalpa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kedah pays 1221% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $380 in Kedah versus $157 in Matagalpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Kedah. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $868 per month in Kedah versus $842 in Matagalpa – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Matagalpa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kedah and Matagalpa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Matagalpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Kedah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.