😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Tbilisi versus $846 in Sungai Petani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,867 in Tbilisi versus $1,285 in Sungai Petani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tbilisi versus $1,723 in Sungai Petani.
😐Living in Tbilisi is roughly 43% more expensive than Sungai Petani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi10% lower, Sungai Petani37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₾28.70
$3.13MYR 12.47
245.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18₾115
$20.87MYR 83.3
106.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29₾22.03
$4.36MYR 17.39
90.14%
Cappuccino
$3.00₾7.96
$1.70MYR 6.78
76.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82₾2.17
$0.49MYR 1.96
67.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₾1.21
$0.25MYR 1.00
84.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.93
$4.24MYR 16.90
-47.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₾7.75
$2.87MYR 11.47
1.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93₾5.11
$1.83MYR 7.32
5.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.81
$0.68MYR 2.71
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88₾4.99
$1.25MYR 5.00
50.40%
Eggs
$2.54₾6.73
$2.04MYR 8.13
24.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42₾19.70
$15.08MYR 60.2
-50.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19₾16.43
$3.52MYR 14.06
75.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₾24.86
$9.87MYR 39.39
-5.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.25
$2.92MYR 11.64
-58.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66₾4.40
$1.44MYR 5.73
15.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80₾4.78
$2.70MYR 10.78
-33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.96
$2.08MYR 8.30
7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.18MYR 4.69
-39.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₾1.79
$1.21MYR 4.82
-44.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.13
$0.95MYR 3.79
24.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.76
$0.46MYR 1.82
43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₾7.91
$4.08MYR 16.27
-26.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₾20.21
$19.86MYR 79.2
-61.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.08
$2.73MYR 10.88
-43.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25₾5.98
$3.49MYR 13.92
-35.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.95
$0.74MYR 2.93
-51.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.44₾38.36
$11.62MYR 46.36
24.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49₾3.96
$0.70MYR 2.78
112.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₾1.82
$0.50MYR 1.98
36.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.23₾19.19
$7.27MYR 29.00
-0.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₾3.04
$0.50MYR 2.00
128.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.0K
$33.2KMYR 132.5K
-44.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K₾53.0K
$27.3KMYR 109.0K
-26.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$38.81MYR 155
89.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64₾30.91
$10.26MYR 40.95
13.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.84₾47.39
$31.36MYR 125
-43.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1₾160
$37.11MYR 148
62.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80₾44.63
$5.95MYR 23.73
182.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60₾17.54
$2.84MYR 11.34
132.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266₾708
$241MYR 962
10.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,191₾13.8K
$6,305MYR 25.2K
-17.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7₾206
$54.1MYR 216
43.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₾119
$29.28MYR 117
52.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₾310
$61.0MYR 243
91.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾300
$52.3MYR 209
115.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693₾1,839
$379MYR 1,514
82.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462₾1,226
$273MYR 1,091
68.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320₾3,505
$644MYR 2,569
104.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₾2,056
$466MYR 1,860
66.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,430₾6,455
$1,277MYR 5,095
90.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446₾3,840
$501MYR 2,000
188.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Sungai Petani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673₾1,787
$511MYR 2,040
31.59%
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 Sungai Petani: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Tbilisi and $379 in Sungai Petani. 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 $21.00 in Sungai Petani. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $251, 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 Sungai Petani?
Tbilisi and Sungai Petani differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,209 vs $846 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?
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 do apartment prices compare in Tbilisi and Sungai Petani?
Rent for a central apartment: $693 in Tbilisi versus $379 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 $266 in Tbilisi versus $241 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 23% 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 $846 in Sungai Petani versus $1,209 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 43% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.