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 $663 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $927 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,064 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,385 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,465 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,842 in Setia Alam, rent included.

Nueva Ecija is about 29% cheaper than Setia Alam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Nueva Ecija and Setia Alam are more affordable than the global median – Nueva Ecija 51% lower, Setia Alam 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ₱271

$4.59 MYR 18.31

-4.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.35 ₱2,181

$23.15 MYR 92.4

52.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 ₱211

$4.84 MYR 19.32

-29.55%

Cappuccino

$1.33 ₱82.1

$3.13 MYR 12.50

-57.51%

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

$0.76 ₱47.02

$0.89 MYR 3.56

-14.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱20.70

$0.37 MYR 1.47

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₱52.4

$4.26 MYR 16.99

-80.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₱143

$5.74 MYR 22.91

-59.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.98 ₱184

$1.80 MYR 7.16

65.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 ₱64.8

$0.68 MYR 2.72

54.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₱57.0

$0.98 MYR 3.91

-6.12%

Eggs

$1.72 ₱106

$1.73 MYR 6.91

-0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.83 ₱483

$4.62 MYR 18.44

69.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 ₱236

$3.92 MYR 15.63

-2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.37 ₱393

$9.45 MYR 37.69

-32.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 ₱257

$1.32 MYR 5.29

215.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 ₱51.0

$1.59 MYR 6.34

-47.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₱119

$1.29 MYR 5.14

48.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₱109

$1.43 MYR 5.71

23.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 ₱103

$1.23 MYR 4.93

35.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 ₱135

$1.27 MYR 5.07

71.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.37 ₱147

$0.61 MYR 2.42

288.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱31.73

$0.56 MYR 2.24

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 ₱156

$4.06 MYR 16.20

-37.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₱271

$19.94 MYR 79.6

-78.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₱82.5

$3.23 MYR 12.90

-58.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₱150

$4.27 MYR 17.05

-42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₱19.89

$0.73 MYR 2.89

-56.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.10 ₱376

$11.93 MYR 47.61

-48.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.35

$1.16 MYR 4.64

-33.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.48

$1.14 MYR 4.54

-80.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$4.62 MYR 18.42

-75.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 ₱58.7

$0.48 MYR 1.90

97.92%

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

$17.5K ₱1.1M

$39.3K MYR 156.9K

-55.47%

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

$23.5K ₱1.4M

$32.2K MYR 128.6K

-27.08%

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

$88.9 ₱5,484

$58.1 MYR 232

53.09%

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

$32.35 ₱1,996

$10.59 MYR 42.26

205.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.29 ₱1,252

$25.89 MYR 103

-21.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.41 ₱2,062

$55.8 MYR 223

-40.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱266

$2.35 MYR 9.37

83.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₱315

$5.11 MYR 20.39

-0.20%

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

$153 ₱9,457

$193 MYR 769

-20.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,346 ₱268.2K

$9,575 MYR 38.2K

-54.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.11 ₱2,783

$61.3 MYR 245

-26.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.85 ₱2,089

$24.70 MYR 98.6

37.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.5 ₱4,165

$84.5 MYR 337

-20.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₱7,058

$52.0 MYR 208

119.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 ₱7,896

$496 MYR 1,979

-74.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.1 ₱4,696

$309 MYR 1,233

-75.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₱12.0K

$815 MYR 3,252

-76.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 ₱8,643

$524 MYR 2,091

-73.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,421 ₱149.4K

$1,965 MYR 7,840

23.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$962 ₱59.3K

$991 MYR 3,955

-2.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 ₱12.0K

$1,180 MYR 4,708

-83.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

4.12

49.76%

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

Last update for Nueva Ecija: June 1, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $128 in Nueva Ecija versus $496 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 505% 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 $35.00 in Nueva Ecija versus $23.00 in Setia Alam. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Nueva Ecija vs $206 in Setia Alam – so Nueva Ecija wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 40% more than Nueva Ecija, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $994 per month in Nueva Ecija and $1,390 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 $35.00 in Nueva Ecija and $23.00 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 $663 in Nueva Ecija and $927 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 $663, than in Setia Alam at $927. 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.