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 $656 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $918 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,080 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,395 in Setia Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,504 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,872 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

$4.32 ₱266

$4.58 MYR 18.75

-5.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.99 ₱2,154

$23.80 MYR 97.4

47.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.27 ₱202

$4.68 MYR 19.16

-30.13%

Cappuccino

$1.39 ₱85.8

$2.98 MYR 12.21

-53.36%

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

$0.75 ₱46.40

$0.84 MYR 3.43

-10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₱20.79

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ₱52.8

$4.33 MYR 17.71

-80.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₱140

$6.02 MYR 24.64

-62.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.96 ₱182

$1.75 MYR 7.16

69.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₱64.0

$0.70 MYR 2.86

48.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$0.98 MYR 4.03

2.04%

Eggs

$1.70 ₱105

$1.65 MYR 6.76

3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 ₱500

$4.78 MYR 19.58

70.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 ₱231

$3.99 MYR 16.34

-6.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.22 ₱383

$9.52 MYR 38.97

-34.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 ₱257

$1.33 MYR 5.44

214.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 ₱47.83

$1.57 MYR 6.42

-50.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₱116

$1.34 MYR 5.47

40.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱114

$1.39 MYR 5.68

33.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 ₱102

$1.22 MYR 5.00

35.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 ₱135

$1.33 MYR 5.43

65.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 ₱147

$0.57 MYR 2.34

319.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₱31.42

$0.53 MYR 2.17

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₱150

$4.21 MYR 17.24

-42.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 ₱270

$19.11 MYR 78.2

-77.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₱85.0

$3.21 MYR 13.15

-57.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ₱150

$4.21 MYR 17.25

-42.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ₱18.28

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-58.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.18 ₱380

$11.72 MYR 47.95

-47.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ₱51.6

$1.17 MYR 4.78

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.52

$1.10 MYR 4.51

-80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₱72.6

$4.62 MYR 18.90

-74.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 ₱58.8

$0.50 MYR 2.05

90.00%

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

$18.0K ₱1.1M

$40.6K MYR 166.1K

-55.68%

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

$23.4K ₱1.4M

$32.2K MYR 131.7K

-27.27%

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

$87.8 ₱5,406

$59.1 MYR 242

48.65%

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

$32.30 ₱1,989

$10.73 MYR 43.90

201.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.32 ₱1,251

$25.60 MYR 105

-20.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.02 ₱2,094

$54.8 MYR 224

-37.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.44 ₱274

$2.38 MYR 9.73

86.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 ₱313

$5.04 MYR 20.63

0.79%

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

$151 ₱9,292

$196 MYR 800

-22.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,361 ₱268.5K

$9,524 MYR 39.0K

-54.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.26 ₱2,848

$59.7 MYR 244

-22.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.16 ₱2,103

$24.82 MYR 102

37.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 ₱4,168

$86.1 MYR 352

-21.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₱7,145

$53.8 MYR 220

115.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ₱7,754

$495 MYR 2,027

-74.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$74.5 ₱4,585

$305 MYR 1,248

-75.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 ₱12.1K

$837 MYR 3,424

-76.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 ₱8,672

$534 MYR 2,187

-73.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,433 ₱149.8K

$2,029 MYR 8,305

19.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 ₱66.0K

$1,175 MYR 4,809

-8.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$197 ₱12.1K

$1,149 MYR 4,701

-82.83%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Nueva Ecija versus $495 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 483% 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 $24.00 in Setia Alam. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Nueva Ecija vs $204 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 $984 per month in Nueva Ecija and $1,377 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 $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 $656 in Nueva Ecija and $918 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 $656, than in Setia Alam at $918. 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.