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: $865 in Matagalpa versus $845 in Kedah.

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

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

Living in Matagalpa is roughly 2% more expensive than Kedah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 NIO 182

$2.97 MYR 11.73

66.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.13 NIO 925

$20.99 MYR 82.9

19.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.05 NIO 260

$4.25 MYR 16.81

65.88%

Cappuccino

$2.36 NIO 87.0

$2.88 MYR 11.37

-18.06%

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

$0.79 NIO 29.04

$0.69 MYR 2.71

14.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 NIO 17.04

$0.36 MYR 1.43

27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 NIO 45.46

$4.28 MYR 16.91

-71.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 NIO 72.3

$4.39 MYR 17.34

-55.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 NIO 43.92

$1.84 MYR 7.26

-35.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 NIO 54.1

$0.90 MYR 3.56

63.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 NIO 58.2

$1.16 MYR 4.59

36.21%

Eggs

$2.18 NIO 80.3

$2.13 MYR 8.42

2.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.98 NIO 72.8

$14.94 MYR 59.0

-86.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 NIO 156

$5.16 MYR 20.37

-17.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.45 NIO 238

$14.74 MYR 58.2

-56.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 NIO 142

$2.87 MYR 11.34

34.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 NIO 30.71

$1.21 MYR 4.77

-31.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 NIO 66.7

$2.68 MYR 10.59

-32.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 NIO 81.3

$2.09 MYR 8.24

5.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 NIO 39.47

$1.18 MYR 4.65

-9.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 NIO 82.2

$1.22 MYR 4.80

82.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 NIO 24.74

$0.95 MYR 3.75

-29.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 NIO 37.83

$0.48 MYR 1.91

114.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 NIO 96.7

$4.19 MYR 16.57

-37.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.13 NIO 373

$19.49 MYR 77.0

-48.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 NIO 44.21

$2.65 MYR 10.47

-54.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NIO 80.6

$3.52 MYR 13.89

-37.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 NIO 16.79

$0.72 MYR 2.85

-36.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.89 MYR 46.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 NIO 33.81

$0.68 MYR 2.69

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 NIO 34.03

$0.47 MYR 1.84

95.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.64 NIO 245

$6.95 MYR 27.47

-4.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 NIO 49.55

$0.50 MYR 1.97

170.00%

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

$22.7K NIO 837.1K

$33.2K MYR 131.3K

-31.61%

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

$26.3K NIO 969.8K

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

-5.72%

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

$51.8 NIO 1,908

$38.58 MYR 152

34.34%

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

$16.71 NIO 615

$10.25 MYR 40.50

63.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.25 NIO 1,298

$11.73 MYR 46.35

200.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 MYR 146

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.85

Cinema Ticket

$8.17 NIO 301

$2.87 MYR 11.33

184.67%

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

$98.5 NIO 3,626

$243 MYR 958

-59.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,933 NIO 218.4K

$6,217 MYR 24.6K

-4.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 NIO 2,795

$53.9 MYR 213

40.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.2 NIO 2,620

$29.08 MYR 115

144.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,862

$61.0 MYR 241

116.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 4,001

$53.0 MYR 209

105.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$155 NIO 5,718

$387 MYR 1,528

-59.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 NIO 9,683

$268 MYR 1,061

-2.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 NIO 20.4K

$638 MYR 2,519

-13.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 NIO 14.0K

$470 MYR 1,857

-19.30%

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)

$202 NIO 7,454

$1,358 MYR 5,364

-85.09%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Kedah: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $155 in Matagalpa and $387 in Kedah. 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: $25 in Matagalpa vs $21 in Kedah. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 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 2% in total monthly costs ($865 vs $845 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Kedah earns 571% 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: $155 in Matagalpa versus $387 in Kedah. 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 $865 per month in Matagalpa versus $845 in Kedah – 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, 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 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.