Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Setia Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Setia Alam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $533 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $982 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $948 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,469 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,363 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,956 in Setia Alam, rent included.

Nueva Ecija is about 46% cheaper than Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nueva Ecija and Setia Alam are more affordable than the global median – Nueva Ecija 61% lower, Setia Alam 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 ₱254

$4.87 MYR 19.68

-16.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.70 ₱1,044

$24.49 MYR 99.0

-31.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.85 ₱178

$4.82 MYR 19.49

-40.87%

Cappuccino

$1.47 ₱92.0

$3.23 MYR 13.08

-54.49%

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

$0.59 ₱36.92

$0.79 MYR 3.21

-25.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.99

$0.46 MYR 1.85

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱63.9

$4.57 MYR 18.49

-77.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₱102

$6.13 MYR 24.77

-73.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱102

$1.85 MYR 7.47

-11.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₱58.8

$0.77 MYR 3.11

22.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ₱60.4

$1.06 MYR 4.29

-8.49%

Eggs

$1.61 ₱100

$1.79 MYR 7.24

-10.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.11 ₱320

$5.06 MYR 20.46

0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 ₱215

$4.29 MYR 17.34

-19.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.66 ₱354

$9.65 MYR 39.03

-41.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 ₱138

$1.38 MYR 5.58

59.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 ₱47.18

$1.90 MYR 7.70

-60.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 ₱110

$1.37 MYR 5.54

28.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.5

$1.53 MYR 6.19

-31.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 ₱110

$1.39 MYR 5.62

25.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 ₱112

$1.35 MYR 5.45

31.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ₱39.08

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-1.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.67

$0.56 MYR 2.27

-23.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 ₱144

$4.34 MYR 17.56

-47.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.47 ₱280

$19.41 MYR 78.5

-76.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$3.52 MYR 14.22

-72.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₱131

$4.86 MYR 19.63

-57.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ₱16.73

$0.71 MYR 2.86

-61.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.57 ₱348

$12.15 MYR 49.11

-54.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱42.90

$1.27 MYR 5.12

-45.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.16 ₱9.89

$1.27 MYR 5.12

-87.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 ₱63.1

$4.98 MYR 20.15

-79.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₱57.1

$0.66 MYR 2.66

37.88%

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

$15.9K ₱995.7K

$41.6K MYR 168.3K

-61.76%

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

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$34.8K MYR 140.9K

-43.37%

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

$81.6 ₱5,103

$63.0 MYR 255

29.48%

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

$17.39 ₱1,088

$9.14 MYR 36.94

90.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.68 ₱1,168

$26.57 MYR 107

-29.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.61 ₱1,852

$57.2 MYR 231

-48.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.93 ₱309

$6.53 MYR 26.39

-24.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 ₱277

$5.31 MYR 21.46

-16.57%

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

$135 ₱8,419

$176 MYR 713

-23.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱670.7K

$11.1K MYR 45.0K

-3.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.67 ₱1,793

$73.6 MYR 298

-61.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.79 ₱1,237

$25.69 MYR 104

-22.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 ₱4,563

$91.0 MYR 368

-19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.7 ₱3,485

$55.4 MYR 224

0.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ₱7,307

$536 MYR 2,167

-78.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.6 ₱4,229

$316 MYR 1,279

-78.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$176 ₱11.0K

$873 MYR 3,529

-79.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₱21.7K

$550 MYR 2,224

-36.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,596 ₱162.3K

$2,066 MYR 8,353

25.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,161 ₱72.6K

$1,112 MYR 4,497

4.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.8K

$1,151 MYR 4,653

-83.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

4.12

63.83%

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

Last update for Nueva Ecija: August 30, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Nueva Ecija versus $536 in Setia Alam. 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 511% higher in Setia Alam, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Nueva Ecija versus $24.00 in Setia Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $217 – making Nueva Ecija the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Nueva Ecija vs Setia Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Setia Alam costs about 84% more than Nueva Ecija, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $800 per month in Nueva Ecija and $1,472 in Setia Alam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nueva Ecija, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Nueva Ecija and $24.00 in Setia Alam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $533 in Nueva Ecija and $982 in Setia Alam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nueva Ecija, where all-in costs run around $533, than in Setia Alam at $982. In Nueva Ecija it covers expenses comfortably, while in Setia Alam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nueva Ecija – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Nueva Ecija. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Setia Alam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.