😐A single person spends $643 per month in Kota Bharu vs $364 in Bhavnagar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Kota Bharu vs $566 in Bhavnagar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,605 per month in Kota Bharu vs $767 in Bhavnagar, rent included.
😐Kota Bharu costs about 77% more than Bhavnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kota Bharu and Bhavnagar are more affordable than the global median – Kota Bharu52% lower, Bhavnagar73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74MYR 6.89
$1.65₹156
5.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.18MYR 83.7
$9.04₹855
134.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.18MYR 16.53
$3.56₹336
17.42%
Cappuccino
$2.33MYR 9.20
$1.41₹134
65.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.77
$0.40₹37.56
12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27MYR 1.07
$0.18₹16.83
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.26MYR 16.85
$1.98₹188
115.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28MYR 16.90
$2.65₹251
61.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51MYR 5.95
$0.70₹66.2
115.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81MYR 3.19
$0.44₹41.85
84.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85MYR 3.34
$0.59₹55.8
44.07%
Eggs
$1.47MYR 5.82
$1.01₹95.9
45.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.28MYR 60.4
$5.02₹475
204.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.88MYR 11.37
$3.10₹294
-7.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.21MYR 24.51
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.52
$1.43₹135
-2.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.53
$0.63₹59.9
122.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.72
$0.94₹88.5
54.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87MYR 3.43
$0.56₹52.9
55.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82MYR 3.22
$0.39₹36.58
110.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20MYR 4.73
$0.41₹38.79
192.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91MYR 3.61
$0.59₹55.9
54.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44MYR 1.73
$0.28₹26.15
57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98MYR 11.79
$3.90₹369
-23.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.39MYR 76.6
$7.58₹717
155.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42MYR 5.61
$2.27₹215
-37.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52MYR 13.90
$2.95₹279
19.32%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.29₹500
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MYR 2.73
$0.33₹31.46
109.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.01MYR 47.45
$6.46₹611
85.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MYR 2.90
$0.57₹53.8
28.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MYR 2.14
$0.18₹17.14
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.45MYR 13.64
$1.19₹113
189.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.47MYR 1.84
$1.15₹109
-59.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KMYR 122.8K
$11.5K₹1.1M
170.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KMYR 107.7K
$19.9K₹1.9M
36.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.38MYR 156
$35.50₹3,359
10.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.08MYR 31.92
$3.37₹319
139.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.98MYR 107
$6.56₹620
311.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.25MYR 143
$11.15₹1,055
225.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.81MYR 22.93
$2.32₹219
150.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30MYR 16.98
$2.86₹271
50.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$119MYR 470
$35.75₹3,383
232.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,108MYR 24.1K
$948₹89.7K
544.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6MYR 208
$24.55₹2,323
114.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.07MYR 75.3
$24.79₹2,346
-23.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.6MYR 243
$42.92₹4,061
43.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.0MYR 205
$33.18₹3,139
56.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262MYR 1,035
$126₹11.9K
108.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$141MYR 559
$66.0₹6,244
114.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$868MYR 3,430
$253₹23.9K
243.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MYR 1,856
$153₹14.5K
207.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$764₹72.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$300₹28.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Bhavnagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302MYR 1,191
$257₹24.3K
17.54%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bhavnagar: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 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 18% 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 $9.00 in Bhavnagar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 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 77%, 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 $546 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 $643 in Kota Bharu and $364 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 86% 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 $643 in Kota Bharu and $364 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