Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,168 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,216 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Bandar Seri Begawan is about 29% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bandar Seri Begawan sits 15% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.88 BND 4.93

$12.11 MX$206

-67.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.86 BND 35.40

$52.2 MX$887

-46.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 BND 7.81

$10.90 MX$185

-43.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 BND 2.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 BND 3.09

Cappuccino

$3.84 BND 4.88

$4.05 MX$68.8

-5.19%

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

$0.96 BND 1.22

$1.72 MX$29.13

-44.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 BND 0.64

$1.38 MX$23.40

-63.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.7

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BND 2.39

$1.85 MX$31.48

1.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 BND 2.24

$3.22 MX$54.7

-45.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 BND 1.53

$2.09 MX$35.42

-42.58%

Eggs

$2.06 BND 2.62

$2.91 MX$49.41

-29.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 BND 11.86

$12.49 MX$212

-25.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 BND 5.89

$10.11 MX$172

-54.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 BND 13.86

$15.89 MX$270

-31.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 BND 3.92

$3.31 MX$56.3

-6.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.83

$2.13 MX$36.12

4.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 BND 3.68

$2.19 MX$37.20

31.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 BND 3.30

$2.45 MX$41.57

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 BND 2.13

$2.19 MX$37.18

-23.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 BND 2.60

$1.90 MX$32.35

7.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.21 BND 4.09

$1.62 MX$27.44

98.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BND 1.04

$1.35 MX$22.92

-39.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$23.31 BND 29.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.43 BND 4.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.65 BND 19.89

$5.43 MX$92.1

188.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$299

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$0.34 MX$5.77

64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$0.75 BND 0.95

$21.58 MX$366

-96.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 BND 4.85

$2.04 MX$34.65

87.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.38 BND 4.29

$0.58 MX$9.82

482.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 BND 14.73

$5.97 MX$101

94.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BND 0.49

$1.62 MX$27.44

-76.54%

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

$43.6K BND 55.5K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

91.26%

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

$37.0K BND 47.0K

$26.7K MX$452.8K

38.62%

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

$61.7 BND 78.4

$65.2 MX$1,108

-5.43%

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

$20.53 BND 26.10

$29.87 MX$507

-31.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 BND 84.2

$36.55 MX$621

81.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.04 BND 50.9

$61.0 MX$1,036

-34.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 BND 9.16

$26.70 MX$453

-73.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.65 BND 7.18

$6.85 MX$116

-17.52%

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

$218 BND 277

$453 MX$7,700

-51.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,765 BND 12.4K

$13.4K MX$227.1K

-26.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 BND 97.6

$75.0 MX$1,273

2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$94.0 BND 120

$55.3 MX$939

70.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BND 137

$114 MX$1,929

-5.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 BND 90.9

$123 MX$2,083

-41.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 BND 904

$1,134 MX$19.3K

-37.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 BND 599

$712 MX$12.1K

-33.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 BND 1,438

$2,571 MX$43.7K

-55.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 BND 876

$1,311 MX$22.3K

-47.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,074 BND 3,907

$3,993 MX$67.8K

-23.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,364 BND 3,004

$2,095 MX$35.6K

12.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,807 BND 2,296

$1,047 MX$17.8K

72.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.88

11.3

-65.66%

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

Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $712 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $1,134 in Mexico City. 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 73% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $345 – 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,753 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $2,469 in Mexico City. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,168 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2777% less in Bandar Seri Begawan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Seri Begawan, where all-in costs run around $1,168, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Bandar Seri Begawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City 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, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.