😐A single person spends $658 per month in Kota Bharu vs $360 in Bhavnagar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Kota Bharu vs $559 in Bhavnagar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,616 per month in Kota Bharu vs $758 in Bhavnagar, rent included.
😐Kota Bharu costs about 82% more than Bhavnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kota Bharu and Bhavnagar are more affordable than the global median – Kota Bharu51% lower, Bhavnagar73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80MYR 7.33
$1.66₹157
8.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.55MYR 87.6
$9.08₹859
137.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.19MYR 17.02
$3.41₹323
22.87%
Cappuccino
$2.41MYR 9.82
$1.45₹137
66.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.97
$0.40₹37.76
22.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27MYR 1.11
$0.19₹17.96
42.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.28MYR 17.41
$2.07₹196
106.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32MYR 17.58
$2.69₹255
60.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57MYR 6.37
$0.66₹62.2
137.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80MYR 3.25
$0.41₹38.85
95.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80MYR 3.24
$0.56₹52.7
42.86%
Eggs
$1.47MYR 5.96
$0.99₹93.4
48.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.93MYR 60.7
$5.03₹476
196.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.86MYR 11.62
$3.18₹300
-10.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.07MYR 24.66
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.68
$1.44₹136
-2.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MYR 5.78
$0.63₹59.9
125.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.87
$0.95₹89.8
51.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.84MYR 3.41
$0.59₹55.7
42.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77MYR 3.14
$0.36₹33.72
113.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16MYR 4.71
$0.44₹41.44
163.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97MYR 3.95
$0.55₹51.7
76.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MYR 1.66
$0.30₹28.69
36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08MYR 12.51
$3.90₹369
-21.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.51MYR 79.3
$7.49₹709
160.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42MYR 5.77
$2.36₹223
-39.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39MYR 13.77
$2.87₹272
18.12%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.32₹503
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72MYR 2.94
$0.34₹32.16
111.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.64MYR 47.30
$6.29₹595
85.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69MYR 2.81
$0.59₹56.3
16.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MYR 2.17
$0.15₹14.61
253.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.59MYR 14.60
$1.14₹108
214.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.86
$1.13₹107
-59.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KMYR 122.5K
$11.5K₹1.1M
163.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KMYR 111.0K
$20.0K₹1.9M
36.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.21MYR 155
$34.38₹3,252
11.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.17MYR 33.20
$3.29₹311
148.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.52MYR 108
$6.55₹619
304.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.31MYR 152
$11.18₹1,058
233.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95MYR 24.20
$2.28₹216
160.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20MYR 17.08
$3.00₹283
40.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116MYR 473
$35.79₹3,386
225.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,302MYR 25.6K
$942₹89.1K
569.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2MYR 212
$24.18₹2,288
115.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.54MYR 75.4
$24.48₹2,316
-24.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.5MYR 254
$43.32₹4,098
44.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.6MYR 218
$32.33₹3,059
65.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254MYR 1,034
$126₹11.9K
101.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143MYR 580
$65.2₹6,170
118.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$860MYR 3,495
$251₹23.8K
242.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469MYR 1,905
$150₹14.2K
211.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$754₹71.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$296₹28.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$296MYR 1,203
$249₹23.5K
18.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
8.91
-53.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kota Bharu: June 15, 2026
Last update for Bhavnagar: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Kota Bharu versus $126 in Bhavnagar. 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 19% 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 $22.00 in Kota Bharu versus $9.00 in Bhavnagar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $106 – making Bhavnagar 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 Bhavnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhavnagar cheaper than Kota Bharu?
Yes – Kota Bharu is pricier by about 82%, 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 $987 per month in Kota Bharu and $541 in Bhavnagar. 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 Bhavnagar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kota Bharu vs Bhavnagar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $658 in Kota Bharu and $360 in Bhavnagar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 85% less in Bhavnagar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 enough for either Kota Bharu or Bhavnagar?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $658 in Kota Bharu and $360 in Bhavnagar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Kota Bharu or Bhavnagar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bhavnagar – 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 Bhavnagar?
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 Bhavnagar. 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.
Kota Bharu vs other spots: cost of living compared