Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Tbilisi Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Tbilisi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,082 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,209 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,632 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,867 in Tbilisi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $2,526 in Tbilisi, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur is about 11% cheaper than Tbilisi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Tbilisi are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Tbilisi 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 MYR 19.28

$10.80 ₾28.69

-55.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 MYR 111

$43.18 ₾115

-35.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.43

$8.29 ₾22.02

-41.50%

Cappuccino

$3.12 MYR 12.51

$3.00 ₾7.96

4.00%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.36

$0.82 ₾2.17

2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 1.99

$0.46 ₾1.21

8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.29

$2.23 ₾5.93

93.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 MYR 23.92

$2.92 ₾7.74

104.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 7.99

$1.93 ₾5.11

3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.06

$0.68 ₾1.81

48.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.84

$1.88 ₾4.99

-9.04%

Eggs

$2.28 MYR 9.15

$2.54 ₾6.73

-10.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 MYR 58.5

$7.42 ₾19.69

96.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 MYR 19.08

$6.19 ₾16.43

-23.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 MYR 38.09

$9.36 ₾24.86

1.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 MYR 11.88

$1.22 ₾3.25

142.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.57

$1.66 ₾4.40

-1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.75

$1.80 ₾4.78

48.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.11

$2.24 ₾5.95

-32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.95

$0.71 ₾1.89

73.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.38

$0.67 ₾1.79

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.66

$1.18 ₾3.13

-1.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.51

$0.66 ₾1.76

-4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.29

$2.98 ₾7.91

44.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.29 MYR 77.4

$7.61 ₾20.20

153.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 MYR 13.20

$1.54 ₾4.08

113.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 MYR 16.93

$2.25 ₾5.98

87.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.93

$0.36 ₾0.95

102.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.82 MYR 47.40

$14.44 ₾38.35

-18.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.61

$1.49 ₾3.96

-22.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.43

$0.68 ₾1.82

61.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 MYR 19.20

$7.23 ₾19.19

-33.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$1.14 ₾3.04

-57.89%

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

$39.8K MYR 159.7K

$18.5K ₾49.0K

115.76%

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

$32.3K MYR 129.5K

$20.0K ₾53.0K

61.71%

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

$65.0 MYR 260

$73.7 ₾196

-11.85%

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

$11.46 MYR 45.96

$11.64 ₾30.90

-1.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 102

$17.84 ₾47.38

42.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 MYR 188

$60.1 ₾160

-22.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 MYR 31.48

$16.80 ₾44.62

-53.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.26

$6.60 ₾17.54

-23.48%

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

$268 MYR 1,076

$266 ₾707

0.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,519 MYR 38.2K

$5,191 ₾13.8K

83.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 MYR 240

$77.7 ₾206

-22.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.97 MYR 148

$44.75 ₾119

-17.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 MYR 347

$117 ₾310

-25.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 MYR 327

$113 ₾300

-27.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$561 MYR 2,249

$693 ₾1,839

-19.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,481

$462 ₾1,226

-19.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 MYR 4,237

$1,320 ₾3,504

-19.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,592

$774 ₾2,056

-16.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,233 MYR 17.0K

$2,430 ₾6,454

74.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 MYR 6,113

$1,446 ₾3,839

5.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 MYR 7,157

$673 ₾1,786

165.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

11.89

-62.41%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Kuala Lumpur versus $693 in Tbilisi. 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 165% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Kuala Lumpur vs $203 in Tbilisi – so Tbilisi 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

Kuala Lumpur vs Tbilisi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tbilisi is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,623 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,813 in Tbilisi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuala Lumpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Tbilisi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $43.00 in Tbilisi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuala Lumpur, where all-in costs run around $1,082, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. In Kuala Lumpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuala Lumpur – 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 Kuala Lumpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.