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: $845 in Kedah versus $865 in Matagalpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,324 in Kedah versus $1,294 in Matagalpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,803 in Kedah versus $1,723 in Matagalpa.

Living in Kedah costs roughly 2% less than in Matagalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 11.73

$4.95 NIO 182

-40.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.99 MYR 82.9

$25.13 NIO 925

-16.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.25 MYR 16.81

$7.05 NIO 260

-39.72%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.37

$2.36 NIO 87.0

22.03%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.71

$0.79 NIO 29.04

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.46 NIO 17.04

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.28 MYR 16.91

$1.23 NIO 45.46

247.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 MYR 17.34

$1.96 NIO 72.3

123.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$1.19 NIO 43.92

54.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 MYR 3.56

$1.47 NIO 54.1

-38.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.59

$1.58 NIO 58.2

-26.58%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.42

$2.18 NIO 80.3

-2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.94 MYR 59.0

$1.98 NIO 72.8

654.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 MYR 20.37

$4.24 NIO 156

21.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.74 MYR 58.2

$6.45 NIO 238

128.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.34

$3.85 NIO 142

-25.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.77

$0.83 NIO 30.71

45.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.59

$1.81 NIO 66.7

48.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.24

$2.21 NIO 81.3

-5.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.07 NIO 39.47

10.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.80

$2.23 NIO 82.2

-45.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.75

$0.67 NIO 24.74

41.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$1.03 NIO 37.83

-53.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.57

$2.63 NIO 96.7

59.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.49 MYR 77.0

$10.13 NIO 373

92.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.47

$1.20 NIO 44.21

120.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 MYR 13.89

$2.19 NIO 80.6

60.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.85

$0.46 NIO 16.79

56.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.89 MYR 46.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.69

$0.92 NIO 33.81

-26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.92 NIO 34.03

-48.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 MYR 27.47

$6.64 NIO 245

4.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$1.35 NIO 49.55

-62.96%

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

$33.2K MYR 131.3K

$22.7K NIO 837.1K

46.22%

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

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

$26.3K NIO 969.8K

6.06%

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

$38.58 MYR 152

$51.8 NIO 1,908

-25.56%

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

$10.25 MYR 40.50

$16.71 NIO 615

-38.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.73 MYR 46.35

$35.25 NIO 1,298

-66.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 MYR 146

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.85

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 MYR 11.33

$8.17 NIO 301

-64.87%

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

$243 MYR 958

$98.5 NIO 3,626

146.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,217 MYR 24.6K

$5,933 NIO 218.4K

4.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 MYR 213

$75.9 NIO 2,795

-29.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.08 MYR 115

$71.2 NIO 2,620

-59.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 MYR 241

$132 NIO 4,862

-53.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.0 MYR 209

$109 NIO 4,001

-51.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,528

$155 NIO 5,718

149.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 MYR 1,061

$263 NIO 9,683

2.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,519

$553 NIO 20.4K

15.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MYR 1,857

$379 NIO 14.0K

23.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,647 MYR 6,507

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,008 MYR 3,983

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,358 MYR 5,364

$202 NIO 7,454

570.78%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Matagalpa: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Kedah and $155 in Matagalpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 571% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21 in Kedah vs $25 in Matagalpa. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $184, 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 2% in total monthly costs ($845 vs $865 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kedah pays 571% 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: $387 in Kedah versus $155 in Matagalpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Matagalpa pay roughly 48% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $845 per month in Kedah versus $865 in Matagalpa – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kedah 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 Kedah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Matagalpa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.