Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Bhagalpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Bhagalpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $643 per month in Kota Bharu vs $317 in Bhagalpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Kota Bharu vs $508 in Bhagalpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,605 per month in Kota Bharu vs $699 in Bhagalpur, rent included.

Kota Bharu costs about 103% more than Bhagalpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kota Bharu and Bhagalpur are more affordable than the global median – Kota Bharu 52% lower, Bhagalpur 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74 MYR 6.89
$2.30 ₹218
-24.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.18 MYR 83.7
$9.66 ₹914
119.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.18 MYR 16.53
$3.59 ₹340
16.43%
Cappuccino
$2.33 MYR 9.20
$1.47 ₹139
58.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.77
$0.25 ₹23.45
80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 MYR 1.07
$0.12 ₹11.33
125.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.26 MYR 16.85
$1.98 ₹187
115.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 MYR 16.90
$9.20 ₹870
-53.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 MYR 5.95
$0.64 ₹60.6
135.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 MYR 3.19
$0.46 ₹43.14
76.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 MYR 3.34
$0.54 ₹51.5
57.41%
Eggs
$1.47 MYR 5.82
$1.06 ₹100
38.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.28 MYR 60.4
$5.29 ₹501
188.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.88 MYR 11.37
$2.64 ₹250
9.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.21 MYR 24.51
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 MYR 5.52
$1.41 ₹133
-0.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 MYR 5.53
$0.62 ₹58.7
125.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.72
$1.07 ₹101
35.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 MYR 3.43
$0.60 ₹56.4
45.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 MYR 3.22
$0.35 ₹33.32
134.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.73
$0.32 ₹29.88
275.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MYR 3.61
$0.40 ₹37.44
127.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 MYR 1.73
$0.32 ₹30.11
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 MYR 11.79
$2.50 ₹236
19.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.39 MYR 76.6
$6.52 ₹617
197.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 MYR 5.61
$2.06 ₹195
-31.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 MYR 13.90
$2.30 ₹218
53.04%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.85 ₹648
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 MYR 2.73
$0.14 ₹12.88
392.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.01 MYR 47.45
$4.57 ₹432
162.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MYR 2.90
$1.15 ₹109
-36.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MYR 2.14
$0.20 ₹18.45
170.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 MYR 13.64
$1.48 ₹140
133.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.47 MYR 1.84
$1.22 ₹116
-61.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K MYR 122.8K
$8,584 ₹812.2K
262.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K MYR 107.7K
$14.5K ₹1.4M
88.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.38 MYR 156
$23.62 ₹2,235
66.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.08 MYR 31.92
$3.23 ₹305
150.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.98 MYR 107
$7.10 ₹671
280.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.25 MYR 143
$12.39 ₹1,172
192.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.81 MYR 22.93
$5.78 ₹547
0.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 MYR 16.98
$1.70 ₹161
152.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 MYR 470
$29.09 ₹2,752
308.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,108 MYR 24.1K
$1,841 ₹174.2K
231.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 MYR 208
$26.74 ₹2,530
96.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.07 MYR 75.3
$13.77 ₹1,303
38.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.6 MYR 243
$42.99 ₹4,068
43.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.0 MYR 205
$24.07 ₹2,278
116.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 MYR 1,035
$45.67 ₹4,321
473.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 MYR 559
$31.97 ₹3,025
342.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$868 MYR 3,430
$130 ₹12.3K
566.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MYR 1,856
$101 ₹9,520
367.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,309 ₹123.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$889 ₹84.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Bhagalpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$302 MYR 1,191
$281 ₹26.6K
7.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
5
-16.80%

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

Last update for Kota Bharu: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bhagalpur: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Kota Bharu versus $45.67 in Bhagalpur. 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 7% 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 $21.00 in Kota Bharu versus $10.00 in Bhagalpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $100 – 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
Kota Bharu vs Bhagalpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhagalpur cheaper than Kota Bharu?
Yes – Kota Bharu is pricier by about 103%, 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 $964 per month in Kota Bharu and $476 in Bhagalpur. 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 Kota Bharu or Bhagalpur?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Kota Bharu and $10.00 in Bhagalpur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kota Bharu vs Bhagalpur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $643 in Kota Bharu and $317 in Bhagalpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Kota Bharu or Bhagalpur?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $643 in Kota Bharu and $317 in Bhagalpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Kota Bharu or Bhagalpur 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, Kota Bharu or Bhagalpur?
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.

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