Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Tbilisi vs $909 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,853 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,337 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Tbilisi vs $1,765 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Tbilisi costs about 34% more than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tbilisi and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Tbilisi 9% lower, Petaling Jaya 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₾28.75

$3.63 MYR 14.70

198.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 ₾117

$18.88 MYR 76.6

133.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ₾21.94

$4.69 MYR 19.02

76.55%

Cappuccino

$3.02 ₾8.00

$2.71 MYR 10.99

11.44%

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

$0.76 ₾2.02

$0.68 MYR 2.74

11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₾1.22

$0.37 MYR 1.49

24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ₾5.93

$3.51 MYR 14.24

-36.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₾7.95

$4.96 MYR 20.10

-39.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ₾5.11

$1.92 MYR 7.78

0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₾1.91

$0.95 MYR 3.85

-24.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 ₾4.87

$1.74 MYR 7.07

5.75%

Eggs

$2.45 ₾6.48

$2.16 MYR 8.75

13.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ₾19.67

$10.81 MYR 43.82

-31.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 ₾17.16

$3.56 MYR 14.45

82.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 ₾25.70

$7.94 MYR 32.21

22.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 ₾3.18

$2.76 MYR 11.18

-56.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₾4.14

$1.73 MYR 7.02

-9.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₾4.75

$2.47 MYR 10.04

-27.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 ₾5.90

$1.21 MYR 4.89

84.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₾1.73

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-43.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₾1.79

$1.38 MYR 5.58

-50.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₾3.16

$0.94 MYR 3.83

26.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₾1.86

$0.63 MYR 2.57

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₾7.82

$4.13 MYR 16.74

-28.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.33 ₾19.41

$19.45 MYR 78.9

-62.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₾4.02

$2.74 MYR 11.09

-44.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₾5.95

$3.77 MYR 15.30

-40.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₾0.95

$0.76 MYR 3.08

-52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.60 ₾38.68

$11.97 MYR 48.52

21.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ₾3.97

$0.99 MYR 4.00

51.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ₾1.92

$0.32 MYR 1.32

128.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 ₾19.74

$9.35 MYR 37.92

-20.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₾3.01

$0.47 MYR 1.90

142.55%

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

$18.5K ₾49.0K

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

-40.84%

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

$20.3K ₾53.6K

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

-28.08%

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

$73.9 ₾196

$40.93 MYR 166

80.50%

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

$11.71 ₾31.01

$8.87 MYR 35.97

32.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.16 ₾48.09

$23.16 MYR 93.9

-21.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.7 ₾163

$36.87 MYR 149

67.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.66 ₾44.12

$7.22 MYR 29.28

130.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 ₾17.50

$5.01 MYR 20.30

31.94%

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

$264 ₾700

$209 MYR 849

26.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,145 ₾13.6K

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

-36.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 ₾198

$48.47 MYR 197

54.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 ₾117

$33.99 MYR 138

29.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₾312

$53.9 MYR 219

118.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ₾301

$48.57 MYR 197

134.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₾1,833

$471 MYR 1,911

46.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₾1,203

$347 MYR 1,407

30.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 ₾3,504

$817 MYR 3,311

62.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₾2,089

$543 MYR 2,200

45.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 ₾6,440

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

-23.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 ₾3,818

$210 MYR 851

586.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 ₾1,709

$1,742 MYR 7,066

-62.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.89

4.49

164.81%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $692 in Tbilisi versus $471 in Petaling Jaya. 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 170% higher in Petaling Jaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Tbilisi versus $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Tbilisi vs $236 in Petaling Jaya – 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 Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tbilisi costs about 34% more than Petaling Jaya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Tbilisi and $1,364 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Petaling Jaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Tbilisi and $209 in Petaling Jaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $909, than in Tbilisi at $1,218. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tbilisi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petaling Jaya costs $909 versus $1,218 in Tbilisi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Petaling Jaya. 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.