😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Tbilisi versus $824 in Sungai Petani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tbilisi versus $1,254 in Sungai Petani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,538 in Tbilisi versus $1,684 in Sungai Petani.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 45% more expensive than in Sungai Petani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Sungai Petani38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.82₾28.38
$3.07MYR 12.57
252.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.85₾115
$20.95MYR 85.7
109.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31₾21.79
$4.16MYR 17.01
99.76%
Cappuccino
$2.97₾7.78
$1.66MYR 6.80
78.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77₾2.01
$0.49MYR 2.02
57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.20
$0.25MYR 1.02
84.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14₾5.63
$4.49MYR 18.36
-52.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87₾7.52
$2.84MYR 11.62
1.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90₾4.99
$1.82MYR 7.44
4.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.86
$0.68MYR 2.80
4.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₾5.00
$1.25MYR 5.12
52.80%
Eggs
$2.48₾6.52
$2.13MYR 8.70
16.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74₾20.29
$14.89MYR 60.9
-48.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18₾16.20
$3.60MYR 14.73
71.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.57₾25.11
$9.79MYR 40.05
-2.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17₾3.06
$2.91MYR 11.91
-59.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₾4.34
$1.52MYR 6.21
8.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85₾4.84
$2.72MYR 11.14
-31.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33₾6.11
$2.10MYR 8.59
10.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.85
$1.18MYR 4.84
-39.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.76
$1.16MYR 4.76
-42.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₾3.12
$0.90MYR 3.69
32.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.72
$0.46MYR 1.87
43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.65
$3.99MYR 16.33
-26.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69₾20.17
$18.87MYR 77.2
-59.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₾4.18
$2.70MYR 11.04
-41.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.06
$3.47MYR 14.20
-33.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₾1.01
$0.70MYR 2.85
-45.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.76₾38.71
$11.96MYR 48.94
23.41%
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
$7.02MYR 28.71
3.42%
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
$32.9KMYR 134.7K
-43.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.7K
$27.2KMYR 111.4K
-24.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.0₾191
$39.01MYR 160
87.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.97₾31.40
$9.93MYR 40.63
20.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00₾47.21
$31.39MYR 128
-42.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0₾160
$36.48MYR 149
67.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52₾43.33
$5.92MYR 24.22
179.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70₾17.58
$2.79MYR 11.41
140.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾705
$240MYR 983
11.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,152₾13.5K
$6,266MYR 25.6K
-17.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5₾201
$54.0MYR 221
41.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41₾114
$28.31MYR 116
53.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₾316
$62.3MYR 255
93.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111₾290
$53.8MYR 220
105.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687₾1,802
$384MYR 1,571
78.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₾1,234
$270MYR 1,106
73.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,353₾3,549
$634MYR 2,593
113.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$789₾2,069
$479MYR 1,960
64.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,468₾6,472
$2,051MYR 8,389
20.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456₾3,817
$1,180MYR 4,826
23.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659₾1,729
$494MYR 2,020
33.45%
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 Sungai Petani: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $687 in Tbilisi and $384 in Sungai Petani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tbilisi pays 33% 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: $44.00 in Tbilisi vs $21.00 in Sungai Petani. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 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 Sungai Petani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tbilisi and in Sungai Petani?
Tbilisi and Sungai Petani differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $824 including rent). Sungai Petani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tbilisi or Sungai Petani?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Tbilisi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and in Sungai Petani?
Rent for a central apartment: $687 in Tbilisi versus $384 in Sungai Petani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tbilisi and Sungai Petani?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $240 in Sungai Petani. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Tbilisi pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $824 in Sungai Petani versus $1,197 in Tbilisi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sungai Petani but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Sungai Petani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tbilisi and Sungai Petani?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tbilisi or Sungai Petani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Sungai Petani are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tbilisi or Sungai Petani?
Expats usually find Sungai Petani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.