Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Tbilisi versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Tbilisi versus $933 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Tbilisi versus $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 114% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 9% lower, Bukit Mertajam 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.33 ₾29.44

$3.47 MYR 14.20

226.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.71 ₾101

$21.02 MYR 86.0

84.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 ₾24.72

$4.90 MYR 20.04

94.29%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ₾8.85

$2.67 MYR 10.91

27.72%

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

$1.04 ₾2.71

$0.82 MYR 3.36

26.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₾1.66

$0.32 MYR 1.32

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 ₾6.79

$2.43 MYR 9.96

7.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ₾8.43

$4.43 MYR 18.14

-26.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ₾5.65

$2.16 MYR 8.83

0.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₾1.92

$1.07 MYR 4.40

-30.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 ₾4.45

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-2.29%

Eggs

$2.83 ₾7.36

$2.58 MYR 10.55

9.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ₾23.95

$15.63 MYR 64.0

-41.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.76 ₾17.55

$4.86 MYR 19.89

39.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 ₾33.17

$10.02 MYR 41.02

27.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.26

$2.33 MYR 9.55

-29.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₾4.60

$1.49 MYR 6.10

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.85

$2.25 MYR 9.20

-16.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ₾6.34

$1.20 MYR 4.90

103.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₾2.25

$0.86 MYR 3.54

1.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.70

$0.80 MYR 3.26

-18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₾3.64

$0.71 MYR 2.91

97.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₾1.93

$0.63 MYR 2.57

17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.41 ₾8.86

$4.45 MYR 18.19

-23.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 ₾19.75

$18.98 MYR 77.7

-59.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₾4.41

$2.43 MYR 9.95

-30.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₾6.20

$3.80 MYR 15.54

-37.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.24 ₾39.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₾3.07

$1.22 MYR 4.98

-3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₾1.97

$0.50 MYR 2.05

52.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.34 ₾29.46

$4.99 MYR 20.40

127.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ₾3.46

$0.82 MYR 3.34

62.20%

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

$24.7K ₾64.2K

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

-41.56%

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

$22.0K ₾57.2K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

-37.40%

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

$88.9 ₾231

$50.8 MYR 208

74.85%

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

$13.33 ₾34.63

$8.67 MYR 35.49

53.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ₾52.3

$31.31 MYR 128

-35.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.7 ₾178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.09 ₾47.00

Cinema Ticket

$6.72 ₾17.45

$4.57 MYR 18.72

47.05%

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

$374 ₾971

$242 MYR 989

54.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₾27.8K

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

118.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₾263

$53.7 MYR 220

88.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 ₾102

$34.48 MYR 141

14.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾305

$72.5 MYR 297

62.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₾318

$97.2 MYR 398

25.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ₾1,773

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₾1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 ₾3,384

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₾2,337

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 ₾6,364

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ₾3,773

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$652 ₾1,695

$555 MYR 2,270

17.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.62

4.2

200.48%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tbilisi pays 18% 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 $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $259, 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 Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $583 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Tbilisi versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,247 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Bukit Mertajam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Bukit Mertajam 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 Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.