Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sibu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Sibu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $821 in Sibu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,237 in Sibu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,653 in Sibu.

Living in Tbilisi is roughly 47% more expensive than Sibu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi 10% lower, Sibu 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 ₾28.69
$2.10 MYR 8.43
414.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18 ₾115
$8.41 MYR 33.74
413.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 ₾22.02
$4.00 MYR 16.03
107.25%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ₾7.96
$2.13 MYR 8.52
40.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₾2.17
$0.60 MYR 2.39
36.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.21
$0.23 MYR 0.92
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ₾5.93
$2.84 MYR 11.40
-21.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₾7.74
$4.95 MYR 19.86
-41.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.11
$1.39 MYR 5.56
38.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 ₾1.81
$1.33 MYR 5.32
-48.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 ₾4.99
$1.20 MYR 4.81
56.67%
Eggs
$2.54 ₾6.73
$1.55 MYR 6.22
63.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.42 ₾19.69
$14.94 MYR 59.9
-50.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.19 ₾16.43
$4.68 MYR 18.77
32.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 ₾24.86
$5.93 MYR 23.78
57.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 ₾3.25
$3.04 MYR 12.20
-59.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₾4.40
$1.21 MYR 4.83
37.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ₾4.78
$1.87 MYR 7.50
-3.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 ₾5.95
$3.48 MYR 13.95
-35.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₾1.89
$1.25 MYR 5.00
-43.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 ₾1.79
$2.31 MYR 9.27
-71.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.13
$0.99 MYR 3.99
19.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ₾1.76
$1.20 MYR 4.83
-45.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₾7.91
$3.94 MYR 15.81
-24.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.61 ₾20.20
$18.02 MYR 72.3
-57.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₾4.08
$1.22 MYR 4.88
26.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₾5.98
$4.09 MYR 16.41
-44.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.95
$0.73 MYR 2.92
-50.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.44 ₾38.35
$11.84 MYR 47.46
21.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ₾3.96
$1.20 MYR 4.80
24.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₾1.82
$0.98 MYR 3.93
-30.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ₾19.19
$5.83 MYR 23.38
24.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₾3.04
$0.50 MYR 1.99
128.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K ₾49.0K
$34.7K MYR 139.2K
-46.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₾53.0K
$31.4K MYR 125.7K
-36.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.7 ₾196
$43.93 MYR 176
67.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 ₾30.90
$5.12 MYR 20.53
127.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84 ₾47.38
$18.25 MYR 73.2
-2.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ₾160
$23.20 MYR 93.1
159.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ₾44.62
$5.79 MYR 23.20
190.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ₾17.54
$3.09 MYR 12.40
113.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₾707
$190 MYR 762
40.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,191 ₾13.8K
$6,990 MYR 28.0K
-25.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 ₾206
$61.0 MYR 245
27.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75 ₾119
$27.04 MYR 108
65.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ₾310
$72.0 MYR 289
62.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ₾300
$50.2 MYR 201
124.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 ₾1,839
$384 MYR 1,540
80.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ₾1,226
$271 MYR 1,085
70.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 ₾3,504
$650 MYR 2,606
103.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ₾2,056
$464 MYR 1,863
66.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 ₾6,454
$2,217 MYR 8,890
9.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 ₾3,839
$869 MYR 3,484
66.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sibu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 ₾1,786
$511 MYR 2,048
31.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
4.25
179.76%

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

Last update for Tbilisi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sibu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $384 in Sibu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tbilisi pays 32% 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 $8.00 in Sibu. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $249, 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 Sibu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Sibu?
Sibu wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sibu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Sibu?
Tbilisi pays 32% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Sibu?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $384 in Sibu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Sibu?
All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Tbilisi versus $821 in Sibu – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tbilisi vs Sibu?
A monthly transit pass in Sibu runs roughly 22% less than in Tbilisi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or Sibu?
At $821 in Sibu versus $1,209 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sibu but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sibu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Sibu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sibu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $821 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sibu hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Sibu?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sibu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sibu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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