😐A single person spends $1,197 per month in Tbilisi vs $658 in Kota Bharu, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,121 in Kota Bharu, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,538 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,583 in Kota Bharu, rent included.
😐Tbilisi costs about 82% more than Kota Bharu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tbilisi and Kota Bharu are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi10% lower, Kota Bharu51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$1.73MYR 7.08
525.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$21.40MYR 87.5
104.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$4.14MYR 16.92
100.72%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$2.32MYR 9.48
28.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.45MYR 1.85
71.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.25MYR 1.01
84.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$4.18MYR 17.11
-48.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$4.28MYR 17.49
-32.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.48MYR 6.07
28.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.76MYR 3.09
-6.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$0.84MYR 3.42
127.38%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$1.53MYR 6.25
62.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$15.27MYR 62.5
-49.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$2.88MYR 11.78
114.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$6.15MYR 25.17
55.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$1.43MYR 5.85
-18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.38MYR 5.64
19.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$1.38MYR 5.64
34.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$0.91MYR 3.72
156.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$0.76MYR 3.12
-6.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.16MYR 4.73
-42.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.96MYR 3.92
23.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.41MYR 1.67
60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$2.95MYR 12.05
-1.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$19.17MYR 78.4
-59.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$1.42MYR 5.82
11.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.43MYR 14.02
-32.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.68MYR 2.78
-44.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$11.80MYR 48.28
25.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.92
$0.74MYR 3.04
102.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.50MYR 2.04
36.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.26₾19.03
$3.46MYR 14.17
109.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.87
$0.50MYR 2.05
118.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K₾48.8K
$30.1KMYR 123.3K
-38.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$27.2KMYR 111.1K
-24.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$38.77MYR 159
88.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$8.31MYR 33.98
44.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$26.56MYR 109
-32.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$37.55MYR 154
62.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$5.92MYR 24.20
179.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$4.34MYR 17.74
54.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$117MYR 477
130.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$6,238MYR 25.5K
-17.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$53.0MYR 217
44.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$19.07MYR 78.0
127.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$62.3MYR 255
93.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$52.0MYR 213
112.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$260MYR 1,062
164.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$143MYR 584
229.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$841MYR 3,438
60.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$469MYR 1,918
68.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$289MYR 1,183
127.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
4.16
185.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kota Bharu: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Tbilisi versus $260 in Kota Bharu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 128% higher in Tbilisi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $21.00 in Kota Bharu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $202 – making Kota Bharu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kota Bharu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kota Bharu?
Tbilisi costs about 82% more than Kota Bharu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Kota Bharu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Tbilisi and $987 in Kota Bharu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tbilisi or Kota Bharu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kota Bharu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi compared to Kota Bharu?
Public transport costs about 25% less in Kota Bharu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Kota Bharu?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Tbilisi and $117 in Kota Bharu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Kota Bharu?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Bharu, where all-in costs run around $658, than in Tbilisi at $1,197. In Kota Bharu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kota Bharu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kota Bharu costs $658 versus $1,197 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kota Bharu?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Tbilisi or to Kota Bharu?
If budget matters most, go with Kota Bharu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tbilisi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.