Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Batu Kawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Batu Kawan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $918 in Batu Kawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $1,428 in Batu Kawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,939 in Batu Kawan.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 30% more expensive than in Batu Kawan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 11% lower, Batu Kawan 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.91 ₾28.56

$4.77 MYR 19.47

128.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.19 ₾113

$28.66 MYR 117

50.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 ₾22.31

$4.78 MYR 19.51

78.45%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ₾7.81

$2.98 MYR 12.16

0.34%

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

$0.81 ₾2.12

$0.92 MYR 3.77

-11.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₾1.09

$0.49 MYR 2.01

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₾5.65

$4.13 MYR 16.85

-47.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₾7.52

$5.90 MYR 24.10

-51.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₾5.08

$1.38 MYR 5.63

40.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₾1.77

$1.06 MYR 4.31

-35.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ₾4.83

$0.74 MYR 3.03

150.00%

Eggs

$2.53 ₾6.62

$2.01 MYR 8.21

25.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ₾19.69

$14.53 MYR 59.3

-48.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ₾16.39

$4.56 MYR 18.63

37.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₾25.09

$9.90 MYR 40.43

-3.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 ₾3.04

$2.99 MYR 12.20

-61.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.29

$1.62 MYR 6.61

1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₾4.93

$2.73 MYR 11.14

-31.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.84

$1.50 MYR 6.14

48.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$1.28 MYR 5.23

-45.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₾1.68

$1.35 MYR 5.50

-52.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 ₾3.09

$1.21 MYR 4.93

-2.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.83

$0.63 MYR 2.56

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₾7.78

$4.28 MYR 17.48

-30.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₾19.45

$18.46 MYR 75.4

-59.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ₾4.03

$3.36 MYR 13.74

-54.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ₾5.98

$4.29 MYR 17.51

-46.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.93

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-50.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.73 ₾38.54

$11.62 MYR 47.45

26.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ₾3.71

$0.68 MYR 2.79

108.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$1.14 MYR 4.67

-39.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ₾19.02

$4.68 MYR 19.09

55.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₾2.86

$0.51 MYR 2.08

113.73%

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

$18.3K ₾47.9K

$31.1K MYR 127.1K

-41.13%

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

$20.5K ₾53.6K

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

-36.46%

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

$74.4 ₾195

$63.4 MYR 259

17.25%

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

$11.71 ₾30.63

$11.42 MYR 46.62

2.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ₾46.06

$22.89 MYR 93.5

-23.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.3 ₾158

$37.46 MYR 153

60.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 ₾42.63

$5.80 MYR 23.69

180.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ₾17.03

$3.51 MYR 14.35

85.47%

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

$269 ₾704

$271 MYR 1,105

-0.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,154 ₾13.5K

$9,331 MYR 38.1K

-44.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.1 ₾202

$60.5 MYR 247

27.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₾114

$36.99 MYR 151

17.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾310

$84.6 MYR 346

39.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₾295

$78.9 MYR 322

42.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 ₾1,856

$380 MYR 1,550

86.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₾1,215

$268 MYR 1,093

73.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 ₾3,442

$634 MYR 2,588

107.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₾2,007

$464 MYR 1,895

65.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,492 ₾6,522

$2,086 MYR 8,518

19.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,442 ₾3,773

$1,136 MYR 4,637

26.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 ₾1,735

$1,861 MYR 7,598

-64.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

197.25%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Tbilisi and $380 in Batu Kawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batu Kawan pays 181% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $29.00 in Batu Kawan. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $256, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.

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

Tbilisi vs Batu Kawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batu Kawan is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 181% lower in Batu Kawan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $709 in Tbilisi versus $380 in Batu Kawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,191 per month in Tbilisi versus $918 in Batu Kawan – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Batu Kawan runs roughly 27% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $918 in Batu Kawan versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batu Kawan but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Batu Kawan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Batu Kawan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Batu Kawan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Batu Kawan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.