Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Seria Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Seria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,168 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $581 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $902 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,216 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,224 in Seria, rent included.

Bandar Seri Begawan costs about 101% more than Seria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bandar Seri Begawan and Seria are more affordable than the global median – Bandar Seri Begawan 15% lower, Seria 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.88 BND 4.93

$3.18 BND 4.04

22.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.86 BND 35.40

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 BND 7.81

$5.42 BND 6.89

13.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 BND 2.57

$1.54 BND 1.95

31.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 BND 3.09

$2.30 BND 2.93

5.65%

Cappuccino

$3.84 BND 4.88

$3.90 BND 4.95

-1.54%

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

$0.96 BND 1.22

$1.53 BND 1.94

-37.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 BND 0.64

$0.77 BND 0.98

-35.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BND 2.39

$3.23 BND 4.10

-41.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 BND 2.24

$1.43 BND 1.82

23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 BND 1.53

$4.05 BND 5.14

-70.37%

Eggs

$2.06 BND 2.62

$1.37 BND 1.74

50.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 BND 11.86

$6.10 BND 7.75

52.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 BND 5.89

$4.80 BND 6.10

-3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 BND 13.86

$19.66 BND 24.99

-44.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 BND 3.92

$4.84 BND 6.15

-36.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.83

$3.82 BND 4.86

-41.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 BND 3.68

$3.82 BND 4.85

-24.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 BND 3.30

$3.23 BND 4.11

-19.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 BND 2.13

$3.11 BND 3.95

-45.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 BND 2.60

$2.29 BND 2.91

-10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.21 BND 4.09

$5.51 BND 7.01

-41.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BND 1.04

$0.77 BND 0.98

6.49%

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

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BND 1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.65 BND 19.89

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BND 0.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$0.75 BND 0.95

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 BND 4.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.38 BND 4.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 BND 14.73

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BND 0.49

$0.33 BND 0.41

15.15%

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

$43.6K BND 55.5K

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

$37.0K BND 47.0K

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

$61.7 BND 78.4

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

$20.53 BND 26.10

$15.68 BND 19.93

30.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 BND 84.2

$68.1 BND 86.5

-2.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.04 BND 50.9

$27.02 BND 34.34

48.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 BND 9.16

Cinema Ticket

$5.65 BND 7.18

$5.63 BND 7.15

0.36%

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

$218 BND 277

$238 BND 302

-8.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,765 BND 12.4K

$19.1K BND 24.3K

-48.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 BND 97.6

$31.59 BND 40.16

143.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$94.0 BND 120

$27.06 BND 34.40

247.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BND 137

$50.2 BND 63.9

114.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 BND 90.9

$47.20 BND 60.0

51.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 BND 904

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 BND 599

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 BND 1,438

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 BND 876

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,074 BND 3,907

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,364 BND 3,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,807 BND 2,296

$710 BND 902

154.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.88

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 Seria: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 155% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Seria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bandar Seri Begawan is pricier by about 101%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $871 in Seria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 34% cheaper in Bandar Seri Begawan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $238 in Seria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Seria, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Bandar Seri Begawan at $1,168. In Seria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bandar Seri Begawan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seria – 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 Seria. 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.