Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Belait Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Belait

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,148 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,657 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,727 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $2,452 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,306 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $3,247 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Bandar Seri Begawan is about 31% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bandar Seri Begawan sits 14% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.75 BND 4.84

$3.67 BND 4.74

2.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.73 BND 35.82

$46.09 BND 59.5

-39.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 BND 8.06

$7.89 BND 10.19

-20.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.57

$1.92 BND 2.48

3.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BND 2.94

$2.32 BND 3.00

-1.72%

Cappuccino

$3.81 BND 4.93

$4.62 BND 5.97

-17.53%

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

$1.00 BND 1.29

$0.97 BND 1.25

3.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 BND 0.74

$0.61 BND 0.79

-4.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 BND 2.49

$2.53 BND 3.27

-24.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 BND 2.31

$2.53 BND 3.27

-29.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 BND 1.59

$2.28 BND 2.95

-46.05%

Eggs

$2.20 BND 2.84

$2.58 BND 3.33

-14.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 BND 9.65

$19.15 BND 24.74

-60.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 BND 5.85

$9.77 BND 12.62

-53.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 BND 14.33

$24.73 BND 31.94

-55.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 BND 4.24

$4.50 BND 5.82

-27.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 BND 3.29

$2.53 BND 3.27

0.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 BND 4.14

$3.19 BND 4.12

0.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 BND 3.68

$2.78 BND 3.59

2.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 BND 2.19

$1.65 BND 2.13

3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 BND 2.79

$2.23 BND 2.88

-3.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.57 BND 4.61

$5.55 BND 7.17

-35.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BND 1.07

$0.76 BND 0.98

9.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.67 BND 16.36

$11.44 BND 14.78

10.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BND 4.33

$5.98 BND 7.73

-43.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 BND 2.04

$1.59 BND 2.06

-0.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.63 BND 20.19

$8.01 BND 10.34

95.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 BND 0.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 BND 6.23

$4.72 BND 6.10

2.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 BND 3.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.49 BND 14.85

$11.62 BND 15.01

-1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BND 0.49

$0.36 BND 0.46

5.56%

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

$39.3K BND 50.8K

$22.9K BND 29.6K

71.65%

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

$36.6K BND 47.3K

$27.1K BND 35.0K

35.14%

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

$60.4 BND 78.0

$38.63 BND 49.89

56.38%

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

$22.12 BND 28.57

$21.89 BND 28.27

1.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 BND 82.9

$64.4 BND 83.2

-0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 BND 48.20

$97.6 BND 126

-61.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.84 BND 3.67

$21.79 BND 28.14

-86.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 BND 7.19

$5.57 BND 7.20

-0.18%

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

$161 BND 208

$155 BND 201

3.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,584 BND 12.4K

$9,500 BND 12.3K

0.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.0 BND 125

$98.4 BND 127

-1.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 BND 89.2

$103 BND 133

-33.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BND 139

$121 BND 157

-11.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.1 BND 82.8

$63.5 BND 82.1

0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 BND 954

$742 BND 958

-0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 BND 592

$794 BND 1,026

-42.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 BND 1,710

$1,178 BND 1,521

12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$812 BND 1,049

$1,167 BND 1,508

-30.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,009 BND 3,887

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,268 BND 2,929

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,954 BND 2,524

$3,320 BND 4,288

-41.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

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 Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $739 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $742 in Kuala Belait. 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 70% higher in Kuala Belait, 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 $46.00 in Kuala Belait. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $356 – making Bandar Seri Begawan 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 Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Belait is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,722 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $2,486 in Kuala Belait. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandar Seri Begawan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $46.00 in Kuala Belait. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% more in Kuala Belait, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Seri Begawan, where all-in costs run around $1,148, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. In Bandar Seri Begawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bandar Seri Begawan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bandar Seri Begawan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.