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: $1,471 in Arecibo versus $1,642 in Kuala Belait.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,194 in Arecibo versus $2,431 in Kuala Belait.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,917 in Arecibo versus $3,220 in Kuala Belait.

Living in Arecibo costs roughly 10% less than in Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arecibo 10% above, Kuala Belait 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.21 $12.21

$3.62 BND 4.63

237.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 $50.5

$46.89 BND 60.0

7.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 $7.31

$7.69 BND 9.84

-4.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.95

Cappuccino

$3.29 $3.29

$4.51 BND 5.77

-27.05%

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

$1.52 $1.52

$0.97 BND 1.23

56.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.56 BND 0.72

153.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 $4.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.45 BND 3.14

-29.39%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.49 BND 3.19

36.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.29 BND 2.93

-5.24%

Eggs

$3.76 $3.76

$2.60 BND 3.33

44.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 $8.80

$18.55 BND 23.73

-52.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$9.84 BND 12.59

-30.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.78 $8.78

$25.05 BND 32.05

-64.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.68 BND 5.99

22.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.63 BND 3.37

-22.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.10 BND 3.97

23.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.80 BND 3.58

47.14%

Potato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.64 BND 2.10

146.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.21 BND 2.83

32.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$5.49 BND 7.03

-58.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.81 BND 1.04

79.01%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.91 BND 7.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.98 $7.98

$7.62 BND 9.75

4.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.78 $15.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.71 $39.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 BND 5.83

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.78 $14.78

$11.88 BND 15.21

24.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.35 BND 0.45

180.00%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$23.0K BND 29.4K

56.89%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$26.9K BND 34.4K

-10.96%

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

$184 $184

$39.27 BND 50.3

369.26%

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

$79.4 $79.4

$21.38 BND 27.36

271.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 $71.0

$64.1 BND 82.0

10.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.64 $40.64

$96.8 BND 124

-58.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BND 27.48

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 $6.90

$5.33 BND 6.83

29.46%

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

$477 $477

$157 BND 201

204.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,940 $3,940

$9,152 BND 11.7K

-56.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.96 $44.96

$98.8 BND 126

-54.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$99.5 BND 127

-84.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 $92.2

$125 BND 160

-26.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 $81.1

$64.8 BND 82.9

25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 $503

$727 BND 930

-30.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 $393

$766 BND 980

-48.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,055 $1,055

$1,167 BND 1,494

-9.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 $680

$1,166 BND 1,493

-41.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,214 $1,214

$3,392 BND 4,341

-64.21%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Arecibo and $727 in Kuala Belait. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Belait pays 179% 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 $47.00 in Kuala Belait. Groceries flip the comparison at $331 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Kuala Belait earns 179% less. 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: $503 in Arecibo versus $727 in Kuala Belait. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Kuala Belait. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,471 per month in Arecibo versus $1,642 in Kuala Belait – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,471 in Arecibo versus $1,642 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 12% less than in Kuala Belait. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.