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: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $1,022 in Batu Kawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,534 in Batu Kawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $2,045 in Batu Kawan.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 22% more expensive than in Batu Kawan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Batu Kawan 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$5.06 MYR 20.70

123.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$29.66 MYR 121

30.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$4.79 MYR 19.61

98.75%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$3.19 MYR 13.05

6.90%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.81 MYR 3.30

28.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.44 MYR 1.81

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$4.34 MYR 17.76

-39.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$6.06 MYR 24.80

-46.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$1.50 MYR 6.14

44.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.07 MYR 4.38

-30.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$0.76 MYR 3.11

125.00%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.05 MYR 8.38

38.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$15.75 MYR 64.5

-41.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.78 MYR 19.57

41.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$9.67 MYR 39.59

32.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$3.37 MYR 13.81

-51.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.93 MYR 7.91

-8.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$2.32 MYR 9.50

-19.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.68 MYR 6.87

45.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$1.37 MYR 5.59

-36.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-54.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$1.15 MYR 4.69

21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.69 MYR 2.84

7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$4.33 MYR 17.73

-21.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$18.71 MYR 76.6

-59.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$3.45 MYR 14.14

-50.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$4.92 MYR 20.12

-51.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

$0.71 MYR 2.93

-49.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

$12.51 MYR 51.2

21.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$0.72 MYR 2.94

63.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.48 MYR 1.95

58.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$5.02 MYR 20.55

125.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$0.81 MYR 3.33

64.20%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$32.0K MYR 131.0K

-22.76%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$34.2K MYR 139.9K

-35.58%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$64.5 MYR 264

37.77%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$9.11 MYR 37.30

46.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$23.76 MYR 97.2

-15.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

$34.57 MYR 141

98.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.00

$7.10 MYR 29.04

154.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$3.79 MYR 15.53

77.31%

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

$374 ₾971

$301 MYR 1,230

24.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$4,862 MYR 19.9K

120.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$70.4 MYR 288

43.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$42.34 MYR 173

-7.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$88.7 MYR 363

32.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$86.7 MYR 355

41.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

$412 MYR 1,684

65.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

$318 MYR 1,302

43.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

$689 MYR 2,822

88.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

$493 MYR 2,016

82.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,364

$2,013 MYR 8,238

21.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

$1,108 MYR 4,535

31.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$1,844 MYR 7,547

-64.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

215.50%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $412 in Batu Kawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batu Kawan pays 183% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $30.00 in Batu Kawan. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $268, 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 183% 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: $682 in Tbilisi versus $412 in Batu Kawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,022 in Batu Kawan – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Batu Kawan runs roughly 22% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,022 in Batu Kawan versus $1,247 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 22% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.