Cost of Living Comparison Between Arecibo and Kuala Belait Cost of Living Comparison Between Arecibo and Kuala Belait

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,457 in Arecibo versus $1,657 in Kuala Belait.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,192 in Arecibo versus $2,452 in Kuala Belait.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,928 in Arecibo versus $3,247 in Kuala Belait.

Living in Arecibo costs roughly 12% less than in Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arecibo 9% above, Kuala Belait 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.02 $12.02

$3.67 BND 4.74

227.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.65 $49.65

$46.09 BND 59.5

7.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 $7.68

$7.89 BND 10.18

-2.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 BND 2.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BND 3.00

Cappuccino

$3.34 $3.34

$4.62 BND 5.96

-27.71%

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

$1.47 $1.47

$0.97 BND 1.25

51.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$0.61 BND 0.79

126.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 $2.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.53 BND 3.27

-32.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.53 BND 3.27

35.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.28 BND 2.95

-7.46%

Eggs

$3.82 $3.82

$2.58 BND 3.33

48.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$19.15 BND 24.73

-52.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$9.77 BND 12.62

-32.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.86 $8.86

$24.73 BND 31.93

-64.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$4.50 BND 5.82

28.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.53 BND 3.27

-24.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.19 BND 4.11

19.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.78 BND 3.59

42.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.65 BND 2.13

133.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.23 BND 2.88

37.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$5.55 BND 7.17

-58.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.76 BND 0.98

90.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.98 BND 7.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.22 $8.22

$8.01 BND 10.34

2.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.37 $15.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.75 $39.75

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 BND 6.09

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.26 $15.26

$11.62 BND 15.01

31.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.36 BND 0.46

163.89%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$22.9K BND 29.6K

55.41%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$27.1K BND 35.0K

-11.57%

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

$183 $183

$38.63 BND 49.87

374.04%

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

$77.9 $77.9

$21.89 BND 28.26

255.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 $70.4

$64.4 BND 83.2

9.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 $40.42

$97.6 BND 126

-58.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.79 BND 28.13

Cinema Ticket

$7.12 $7.12

$5.57 BND 7.20

27.83%

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

$466 $466

$155 BND 201

199.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,970 $3,970

$9,500 BND 12.3K

-58.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.26 $45.26

$98.4 BND 127

-54.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.25 $15.25

$103 BND 133

-85.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 $92.7

$121 BND 157

-23.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.4 $81.4

$63.5 BND 82.0

28.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 $501

$742 BND 958

-32.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 $397

$794 BND 1,025

-50.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,030 $1,030

$1,178 BND 1,521

-12.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 $670

$1,167 BND 1,507

-42.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,184 $1,184

$3,320 BND 4,286

-64.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.17

4.06

2.71%

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

Last update for Arecibo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Arecibo and $742 in Kuala Belait. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Belait pays 180% 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: $50.0 in Arecibo vs $46.00 in Kuala Belait. Groceries flip the comparison at $330 vs $356, with Arecibo 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

Arecibo vs Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arecibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 180% lower in Kuala Belait. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $501 in Arecibo versus $742 in Kuala Belait. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Kuala Belait. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,457 per month in Arecibo versus $1,657 in Kuala Belait – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,457 in Arecibo versus $1,657 in Kuala Belait, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arecibo but tight or insufficient in Kuala Belait. The gap between the two cities makes Arecibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Arecibo and Kuala Belait 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 Arecibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Kuala Belait. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.