😐A single person spends $1,148 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $956 in Abakan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,727 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,433 in Abakan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,306 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,911 in Abakan, rent included.
😐Bandar Seri Begawan costs about 20% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Bandar Seri Begawan and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Bandar Seri Begawan14% lower, Abakan28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75BND 4.84
$9.45₽738
-60.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.73BND 35.81
$19.70₽1,539
40.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24BND 8.05
$6.25₽488
-0.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99BND 2.57
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28BND 2.94
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.81BND 4.92
$2.78₽217
37.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00BND 1.29
$1.20₽93.4
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58BND 0.74
$0.38₽29.96
52.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.18₽92.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.24₽97.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92BND 2.48
$1.20₽93.6
60.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79BND 2.31
$0.70₽54.4
155.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23BND 1.59
$1.36₽106
-9.56%
Eggs
$2.20BND 2.84
$1.79₽140
22.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.47BND 9.65
$10.77₽842
-30.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.53BND 5.85
$4.99₽389
-9.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09BND 14.32
$8.87₽693
25.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28BND 4.24
$1.80₽141
82.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55BND 3.29
$2.27₽177
12.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20BND 4.14
$1.98₽154
61.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85BND 3.67
$2.79₽218
2.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70BND 2.19
$1.16₽90.7
46.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16BND 2.79
$0.67₽52.2
222.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.57BND 4.60
$1.36₽107
162.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83BND 1.07
$0.72₽56.2
15.28%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$12.67BND 16.36
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35BND 4.33
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58BND 2.04
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.63BND 20.18
$2.88₽225
442.71%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.19₽796
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.02₽79.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.94₽151
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74BND 0.96
$0.38₽29.34
94.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.82BND 6.23
$1.30₽102
270.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64BND 3.40
$0.35₽27.49
654.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.49BND 14.84
$6.41₽501
79.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38BND 0.49
$0.73₽57.3
-47.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3KBND 50.8K
$34.7K₽2.7M
13.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6KBND 47.2K
$36.0K₽2.8M
1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.4BND 78.0
$109₽8,536
-44.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.12BND 28.56
$6.04₽472
266.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2BND 82.9
$7.73₽604
730.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.32BND 48.19
$35.87₽2,802
4.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.84BND 3.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.56BND 7.18
$5.14₽401
8.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161BND 208
$328₽25.6K
-50.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,584BND 12.4K
$7,040₽550.0K
36.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.0BND 125
$50.1₽3,917
93.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.0BND 89.1
$50.4₽3,939
36.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108BND 139
$101₽7,871
7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.1BND 82.8
$101₽7,905
-36.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739BND 954
$442₽34.5K
67.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458BND 592
$299₽23.3K
53.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,324BND 1,710
$764₽59.7K
73.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$812BND 1,049
$499₽39.0K
62.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,009BND 3,885
$1,774₽138.6K
69.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,268BND 2,928
$1,451₽113.3K
56.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandar Seri Begawan
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,954BND 2,523
$623₽48.6K
213.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
15.33
-73.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: July 11, 2026
Last update for Abakan: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $739 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $442 in Abakan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 214% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $20.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $208 – making Abakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bandar Seri Begawan vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abakan cheaper than Bandar Seri Begawan?
Yes – Bandar Seri Begawan is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,722 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $1,433 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bandar Seri Begawan and in Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,148 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $956 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $328 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bandar Seri Begawan or in Abakan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $956, than in Bandar Seri Begawan at $1,148. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bandar Seri Begawan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bandar Seri Begawan or Abakan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bandar Seri Begawan or Abakan?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abakan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bandar Seri Begawan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Bandar Seri Begawan vs other spots: cost of living compared