🙂A single person spends $307 per month in Bhagalpur vs $654 in Kota Bharu, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $514 per month in Bhagalpur vs $1,135 in Kota Bharu, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $721 per month in Bhagalpur vs $1,616 in Kota Bharu, rent included.
🙂Bhagalpur is about 53% cheaper than Kota Bharu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bhagalpur and Kota Bharu are more affordable than the global median – Bhagalpur77% lower, Kota Bharu51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27₹216
$1.73MYR 7.03
31.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.01₹952
$21.23MYR 86.1
-52.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.50₹333
$4.15MYR 16.83
-15.66%
Cappuccino
$1.42₹135
$2.43MYR 9.84
-41.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25₹23.59
$0.48MYR 1.95
-47.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.20
$0.25MYR 1.01
-48.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92₹182
$4.36MYR 17.68
-55.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.50₹904
$4.30MYR 17.43
120.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.61₹58.3
$1.55MYR 6.30
-60.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42₹39.85
$0.80MYR 3.25
-47.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.50₹47.32
$0.78MYR 3.16
-35.90%
Eggs
$1.11₹106
$1.55MYR 6.27
-28.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.38₹512
$15.28MYR 62.0
-64.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.68₹255
$2.90MYR 11.75
-7.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$6.16MYR 24.99
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.35₹129
$1.45MYR 5.86
-6.90%
Banana(1kg)
$0.66₹62.9
$1.43MYR 5.79
-53.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10₹105
$1.40MYR 5.67
-21.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54₹51.6
$0.85MYR 3.44
-36.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38₹36.34
$0.82MYR 3.32
-53.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.34₹32.44
$1.15MYR 4.67
-70.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40₹37.97
$0.91MYR 3.68
-56.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34₹32.65
$0.43MYR 1.76
-20.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60₹247
$2.96MYR 12.02
-12.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09₹579
$19.42MYR 78.8
-68.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01₹191
$1.43MYR 5.79
40.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₹223
$3.54MYR 14.35
-33.90%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.57₹625
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.13₹12.57
$0.69MYR 2.81
-81.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.58₹435
$11.59MYR 46.99
-60.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14₹109
$0.68MYR 2.75
67.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₹20.12
$0.53MYR 2.15
-60.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₹135
$3.61MYR 14.65
-60.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₹113
$0.50MYR 2.03
136.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,663₹823.9K
$30.7KMYR 124.3K
-71.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9K₹1.4M
$27.6KMYR 112.0K
-46.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.15₹2,202
$38.47MYR 156
-39.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.18₹302
$8.49MYR 34.42
-62.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.47₹711
$26.12MYR 106
-71.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.47₹1,185
$37.20MYR 151
-66.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.50₹523
$5.79MYR 23.48
-5.01%
Cinema Ticket
$1.72₹164
$4.13MYR 16.73
-58.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$29.59₹2,814
$116MYR 470
-74.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,894₹180.1K
$6,186MYR 25.1K
-69.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.95₹2,468
$53.5MYR 217
-51.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.23₹1,353
$19.18MYR 77.8
-25.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.25₹4,113
$60.9MYR 247
-28.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.41₹2,322
$53.3MYR 216
-54.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$46.11₹4,385
$255MYR 1,032
-81.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$31.47₹2,993
$140MYR 567
-77.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126₹12.0K
$846MYR 3,430
-85.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.8₹9,487
$474MYR 1,921
-78.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,303₹123.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$865₹82.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bhagalpur
Kota Bharu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$272₹25.9K
$303MYR 1,228
-10.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
4.16
20.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bhagalpur: June 6, 2026
Last update for Kota Bharu: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $46.11 in Bhagalpur versus $255 in Kota Bharu. 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 11% higher in Kota Bharu, 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 $10.00 in Bhagalpur versus $21.00 in Kota Bharu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $99.0 vs $204 – making Bhagalpur 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
Bhagalpur vs Kota Bharu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kota Bharu cheaper than Bhagalpur?
Yes – Kota Bharu is pricier by about 113%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $460 per month in Bhagalpur and $981 in Kota Bharu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhagalpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Bhagalpur or Kota Bharu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Bhagalpur and $21.00 in Kota Bharu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bhagalpur vs Kota Bharu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $307 in Bhagalpur and $654 in Kota Bharu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Bhagalpur or Kota Bharu?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $307 in Bhagalpur and $654 in Kota Bharu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Bhagalpur or Kota Bharu more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bhagalpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bhagalpur or Kota Bharu?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bhagalpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kota Bharu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.