😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $782 in Bintulu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,237 in Bintulu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,692 in Bintulu.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 53% more expensive than in Bintulu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Bintulu41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$3.84MYR 15.72
181.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$17.40MYR 71.2
152.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$5.62MYR 23.00
47.86%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.79MYR 11.41
6.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.62MYR 2.55
24.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.36MYR 1.49
27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$2.91MYR 11.91
-26.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$4.91MYR 20.09
-41.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.74MYR 7.11
9.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$1.31MYR 5.36
-45.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.25MYR 5.12
52.80%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.20MYR 8.99
12.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$16.43MYR 67.2
-52.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$3.46MYR 14.15
78.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$5.82MYR 23.82
64.43%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.68MYR 6.87
-30.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$0.98MYR 4.01
68.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.66MYR 6.79
11.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$1.06MYR 4.34
119.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.49MYR 1.99
44.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.16MYR 4.76
-42.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.72MYR 2.93
65.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.39MYR 1.61
69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$3.89MYR 15.92
-24.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$19.91MYR 81.5
-61.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.88MYR 11.76
-44.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$1.87MYR 7.63
23.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$1.16MYR 4.75
-67.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$15.91MYR 65.1
-7.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.92MYR 3.75
63.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.86MYR 3.53
-20.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$2.37MYR 9.71
206.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.52MYR 2.12
109.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$42.1KMYR 172.4K
-55.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$37.0KMYR 151.1K
-44.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$57.8MYR 236
26.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$9.04MYR 36.97
32.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$29.17MYR 119
-38.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$64.1MYR 262
-4.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$5.84MYR 23.89
182.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$4.18MYR 17.08
60.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$120MYR 493
123.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$7,111MYR 29.1K
-27.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$62.3MYR 255
22.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$34.04MYR 139
27.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$76.0MYR 311
58.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$88.2MYR 361
25.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$208MYR 851
230.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$151MYR 616
212.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$462MYR 1,890
192.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$313MYR 1,279
152.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$1,751MYR 7,161
40.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$1,164MYR 4,762
25.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$609MYR 2,491
8.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.5
164.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Bintulu: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $208 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $17.00 in Bintulu. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $224, 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 53% 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: $687 in Tbilisi versus $208 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 $1,197 per month in Tbilisi versus $782 in Bintulu – a 53% 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 8% 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 $782 in Bintulu versus $1,197 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 $782 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 53% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.