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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Matagalpa costs roughly 3% less than in Kedah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 NIO 176

$3.02 MYR 12.25

58.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.91 NIO 912

$21.42 MYR 86.9

16.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 NIO 249

$4.28 MYR 17.36

58.88%

Cappuccino

$2.41 NIO 88.4

$2.95 MYR 11.96

-18.31%

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

$0.85 NIO 31.09

$0.74 MYR 3.02

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 NIO 16.96

$0.37 MYR 1.48

24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 NIO 43.52

$4.40 MYR 17.84

-72.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 NIO 73.7

$4.48 MYR 18.19

-55.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 NIO 43.53

$1.81 MYR 7.34

-34.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.0

$0.91 MYR 3.67

68.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 NIO 57.5

$1.21 MYR 4.92

29.75%

Eggs

$2.19 NIO 80.2

$2.11 MYR 8.58

3.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.90 NIO 69.7

$15.33 MYR 62.2

-87.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.11 NIO 151

$5.00 MYR 20.27

-17.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 NIO 248

$14.66 MYR 59.5

-53.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 NIO 142

$2.88 MYR 11.70

34.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 NIO 33.17

$1.19 MYR 4.83

-23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 NIO 64.4

$2.61 MYR 10.60

-32.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.4

$2.17 MYR 8.82

5.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 NIO 41.32

$1.19 MYR 4.83

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 80.0

$1.16 MYR 4.72

87.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 NIO 24.81

$0.97 MYR 3.92

-29.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 NIO 36.10

$0.48 MYR 1.95

106.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 NIO 96.5

$4.13 MYR 16.76

-36.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 NIO 362

$19.59 MYR 79.5

-49.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 NIO 43.78

$2.64 MYR 10.70

-54.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NIO 80.3

$3.37 MYR 13.67

-35.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 NIO 17.82

$0.68 MYR 2.77

-27.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.77 MYR 47.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 NIO 30.71

$0.69 MYR 2.82

21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 NIO 33.18

$0.47 MYR 1.92

93.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 NIO 245

$6.98 MYR 28.34

-4.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NIO 50.1

$0.49 MYR 2.00

179.59%

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

$23.3K NIO 854.5K

$33.5K MYR 135.9K

-30.32%

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

$26.4K NIO 967.8K

$27.4K MYR 111.0K

-3.41%

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

$52.6 NIO 1,928

$38.49 MYR 156

36.76%

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

$17.24 NIO 632

$9.99 MYR 40.52

72.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.43 NIO 1,297

$11.96 MYR 48.55

196.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.49 MYR 148

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 MYR 23.76

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 NIO 299

$2.81 MYR 11.41

190.39%

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

$99.9 NIO 3,658

$238 MYR 964

-57.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,958 NIO 218.2K

$6,215 MYR 25.2K

-4.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 NIO 2,781

$55.4 MYR 225

37.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.1 NIO 2,639

$28.32 MYR 115

154.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,854

$62.0 MYR 252

113.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,035

$52.5 MYR 213

109.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 NIO 5,735

$380 MYR 1,541

-58.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 NIO 9,764

$270 MYR 1,094

-1.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$551 NIO 20.2K

$646 MYR 2,622

-14.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 NIO 13.5K

$465 MYR 1,886

-20.65%

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)

$100 NIO 3,665

$1,322 MYR 5,363

-92.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

4.16

146.39%

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

Last update for Matagalpa: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kedah: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $157 in Matagalpa and $380 in Kedah. 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: $25.00 in Matagalpa vs $21.00 in Kedah. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $273, 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

Matagalpa vs Kedah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, Kedah earns 1221% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $157 in Matagalpa versus $380 in Kedah. 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 $842 per month in Matagalpa versus $868 in Kedah – 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, Matagalpa and Kedah 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.