😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $843 in Bintulu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $1,334 in Bintulu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,824 in Bintulu.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 48% more expensive than in Bintulu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi9% lower, Bintulu38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33₾29.44
$3.89MYR 15.88
191.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.71₾101
$18.53MYR 75.6
108.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52₾24.72
$5.78MYR 23.57
64.71%
Cappuccino
$3.41₾8.85
$2.96MYR 12.09
15.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04₾2.71
$0.64MYR 2.62
62.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₾1.66
$0.37MYR 1.53
72.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61₾6.79
$2.93MYR 11.94
-10.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24₾8.43
$5.13MYR 20.93
-36.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₾5.65
$2.16MYR 8.80
0.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74₾1.92
$1.37MYR 5.61
-45.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71₾4.45
$1.32MYR 5.39
29.55%
Eggs
$2.83₾7.36
$2.18MYR 8.90
29.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₾23.94
$16.92MYR 69.0
-45.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.76₾17.55
$3.46MYR 14.12
95.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.77₾33.16
$5.93MYR 24.20
115.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₾4.26
$1.67MYR 6.82
-1.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₾4.60
$1.01MYR 4.11
75.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₾4.85
$1.67MYR 6.82
11.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₾6.34
$1.16MYR 4.75
110.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87₾2.25
$0.52MYR 2.10
67.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65₾1.70
$1.20MYR 4.89
-45.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40₾3.63
$0.76MYR 3.09
84.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₾1.93
$0.44MYR 1.81
68.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41₾8.86
$4.20MYR 17.13
-18.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60₾19.75
$19.38MYR 79.1
-60.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₾4.41
$2.90MYR 11.85
-41.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₾6.19
$1.93MYR 7.87
23.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.94
$1.20MYR 4.88
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.24₾39.59
$16.15MYR 65.9
-5.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₾3.07
$1.00MYR 4.07
18.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76₾1.97
$0.89MYR 3.64
-14.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.34₾29.46
$2.40MYR 9.77
372.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33₾3.46
$0.59MYR 2.40
125.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K₾64.2K
$45.0KMYR 183.6K
-45.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₾57.2K
$38.8KMYR 158.5K
-43.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9₾231
$59.7MYR 244
48.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.33₾34.62
$31.36MYR 128
-57.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12₾52.3
$31.26MYR 128
-35.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.7₾178
$68.8MYR 281
-0.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.09₾46.99
$12.31MYR 50.2
46.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72₾17.45
$4.47MYR 18.22
50.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374₾970
$129MYR 528
188.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K₾27.8K
$7,469MYR 30.5K
43.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₾263
$66.1MYR 270
53.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33₾102
$35.14MYR 143
11.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾305
$79.7MYR 325
47.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₾318
$91.7MYR 374
33.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682₾1,772
$219MYR 892
212.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456₾1,186
$155MYR 632
194.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303₾3,384
$487MYR 1,988
167.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899₾2,336
$338MYR 1,378
166.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,449₾6,363
$1,724MYR 7,035
42.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452₾3,773
$1,139MYR 4,646
27.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652₾1,694
$603MYR 2,458
8.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.62
4.5
180.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026
Last update for Bintulu: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Tbilisi and $219 in Bintulu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Tbilisi vs $19.00 in Bintulu. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $232, 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 Bintulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Bintulu?
Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or in Bintulu?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi compared to Bintulu?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Tbilisi versus $219 in Bintulu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Bintulu?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $843 in Bintulu – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Bintulu?
A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 6% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Bintulu?
At $843 in Bintulu versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bintulu but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Bintulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Bintulu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $843 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Bintulu?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Bintulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.