Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kota Bharu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kota Bharu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Tbilisi vs $665 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,867 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,131 in Kota Bharu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,526 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,597 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 – Tbilisi 10% lower, Kota Bharu 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.71
$1.75 MYR 6.93
517.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$21.48 MYR 85.2
101.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.04
$4.13 MYR 16.38
100.73%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.97
$2.41 MYR 9.55
24.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$0.49 MYR 1.92
67.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.25 MYR 0.98
84.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$4.21 MYR 16.68
-47.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.75
$4.19 MYR 16.60
-30.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.12
$1.51 MYR 5.97
27.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$0.80 MYR 3.18
-15.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾5.00
$0.78 MYR 3.10
141.03%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.74
$1.48 MYR 5.85
71.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.70
$15.18 MYR 60.2
-51.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.44
$2.96 MYR 11.75
109.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.87
$6.08 MYR 24.11
53.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$1.43 MYR 5.66
-14.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.39 MYR 5.52
19.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.39 MYR 5.52
29.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.96
$0.84 MYR 3.33
166.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$0.79 MYR 3.13
-10.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$1.15 MYR 4.55
-41.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.98 MYR 3.87
20.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$0.40 MYR 1.60
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$2.94 MYR 11.64
1.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.22
$20.03 MYR 79.4
-62.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.38 MYR 5.49
11.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.99
$3.52 MYR 13.97
-36.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.74 MYR 2.92
-51.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.38
$11.76 MYR 46.61
22.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.97
$0.69 MYR 2.75
115.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.53 MYR 2.12
28.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.20
$3.44 MYR 13.64
110.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$0.47 MYR 1.86
142.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.1K
$31.1K MYR 123.1K
-40.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.1K
$27.2K MYR 107.7K
-26.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$38.83 MYR 154
89.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.92
$8.15 MYR 32.30
42.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.41
$26.43 MYR 105
-32.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$36.86 MYR 146
63.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.65
$5.90 MYR 23.40
184.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.55
$4.35 MYR 17.26
51.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾708
$118 MYR 467
126.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$6,109 MYR 24.2K
-15.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$53.3 MYR 211
45.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$18.94 MYR 75.1
136.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$62.5 MYR 248
86.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$51.7 MYR 205
118.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,840
$257 MYR 1,019
169.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,227
$142 MYR 562
225.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,507
$859 MYR 3,405
53.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,057
$465 MYR 1,843
66.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,458
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,842
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kota Bharu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,788
$300 MYR 1,189
124.32%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $693 in Tbilisi versus $257 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 124% 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 $43.00 in Tbilisi versus $21.00 in Kota Bharu. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Tbilisi vs $203 in Kota Bharu – so Tbilisi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 vs Kota Bharu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Tbilisi and $998 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 vs Kota Bharu?
Public transport costs about 23% 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 Kota Bharu?
Kindergarten costs $266 per month in Tbilisi and $118 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 Kota Bharu?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kota Bharu, where all-in costs run around $665, than in Tbilisi at $1,209. 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 $665 versus $1,209 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 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.

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