Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Kuching

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Tbilisi versus $790 in Kuching.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,848 in Tbilisi versus $1,208 in Kuching.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,518 in Tbilisi versus $1,626 in Kuching.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 49% more expensive than Kuching, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 12% lower, Kuching 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.09 ₾29.35

$2.78 MYR 11.32

298.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.24 ₾114

$20.16 MYR 81.9

114.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.55 ₾22.63

$4.58 MYR 18.60

86.68%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ₾7.86

$2.53 MYR 10.29

17.39%

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

$0.76 ₾2.01

$0.75 MYR 3.05

1.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.30 MYR 1.21

53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ₾5.88

$2.75 MYR 11.20

-19.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₾7.73

$3.67 MYR 14.93

-20.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ₾5.21

$1.91 MYR 7.75

3.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₾1.94

$1.09 MYR 4.45

-33.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₾4.81

$1.06 MYR 4.33

71.70%

Eggs

$2.49 ₾6.60

$2.16 MYR 8.80

15.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 ₾20.27

$9.72 MYR 39.53

-21.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.27 ₾16.59

$3.73 MYR 15.18

68.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 ₾25.14

$7.90 MYR 32.13

20.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ₾3.24

$2.97 MYR 12.07

-58.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ₾4.33

$1.12 MYR 4.54

46.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 ₾4.95

$2.50 MYR 10.17

-25.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₾6.02

$1.75 MYR 7.12

29.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.77

$1.14 MYR 4.65

-41.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₾1.79

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-45.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 ₾3.23

$1.69 MYR 6.86

-27.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.85

$0.50 MYR 2.03

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 ₾7.73

$4.30 MYR 17.49

-32.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 ₾20.42

$20.77 MYR 84.4

-62.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₾4.09

$3.87 MYR 15.72

-59.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₾5.86

$3.36 MYR 13.66

-33.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₾1.02

$0.25 MYR 1.02

56.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.67 ₾38.81

$11.59 MYR 47.12

26.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ₾3.82

$0.92 MYR 3.74

56.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₾1.81

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-36.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 ₾19.52

$1.91 MYR 7.76

285.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.03

$0.47 MYR 1.91

142.55%

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

$18.2K ₾48.1K

$44.5K MYR 181.0K

-59.20%

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

$20.4K ₾54.1K

$37.3K MYR 151.6K

-45.18%

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

$73.6 ₾195

$41.77 MYR 170

76.30%

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

$11.64 ₾30.80

$8.90 MYR 36.17

30.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.63 ₾46.65

$24.88 MYR 101

-29.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 ₾162

$29.24 MYR 119

109.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.85 ₾44.59

$9.75 MYR 39.65

72.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 ₾17.71

$4.81 MYR 19.54

39.09%

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

$264 ₾699

$143 MYR 581

84.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,169 ₾13.7K

$6,177 MYR 25.1K

-16.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 ₾199

$65.6 MYR 266

14.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.26 ₾114

$31.65 MYR 129

36.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾311

$86.8 MYR 353

35.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₾295

$72.2 MYR 294

54.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 ₾1,868

$279 MYR 1,133

153.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₾1,221

$206 MYR 839

123.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 ₾3,488

$564 MYR 2,293

133.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$781 ₾2,066

$384 MYR 1,560

103.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,463 ₾6,517

$2,033 MYR 8,263

21.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₾3,727

$1,519 MYR 6,175

-7.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$672 ₾1,779

$531 MYR 2,160

26.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

4.27

178.45%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Kuching: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Tbilisi and $279 in Kuching. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 27% 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: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $20.00 in Kuching. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $241, 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 Kuching: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuching is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tbilisi pays 27% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Tbilisi versus $279 in Kuching. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kuching – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,178 per month in Tbilisi versus $790 in Kuching – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $790 in Kuching versus $1,178 in Tbilisi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuching but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kuching the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kuching is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tbilisi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kuching 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 Kuching gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.