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 $1,148 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $546 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,748 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $893 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,347 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,241 in Seria, rent included.

Bandar Seri Begawan costs about 110% more than Seria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bandar Seri Begawan and Seria are more affordable than the global median – Bandar Seri Begawan 14% lower, Seria 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 BND 4.84

$3.10 BND 3.97

22.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.46 BND 35.14

$27.55 BND 35.26

-0.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 BND 7.67

$5.59 BND 7.15

7.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 BND 2.44

$1.60 BND 2.05

19.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 BND 3.06

$2.40 BND 3.07

-0.42%

Cappuccino

$3.73 BND 4.77

$3.85 BND 4.93

-3.12%

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

$0.97 BND 1.24

$0.94 BND 1.20

3.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$0.60 BND 0.77

-6.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 BND 2.41

$1.88 BND 2.41

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 BND 2.18

$1.42 BND 1.82

19.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 BND 1.65

$1.26 BND 1.61

2.38%

Eggs

$2.23 BND 2.85

$1.37 BND 1.76

62.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 BND 9.18

$6.38 BND 8.17

12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 BND 5.76

$4.33 BND 5.54

3.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 BND 14.41

$11.45 BND 14.65

-1.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.18 BND 4.07

$3.11 BND 3.98

2.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.66 BND 3.40

$2.53 BND 3.24

5.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.15 BND 4.03

$3.03 BND 3.88

3.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.87 BND 3.68

$2.76 BND 3.53

3.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 BND 2.10

$1.66 BND 2.12

-1.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 BND 2.75

$2.14 BND 2.74

0.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.51 BND 4.49

$3.37 BND 4.31

4.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BND 0.97

$0.75 BND 0.96

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$13.09 BND 16.75

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 BND 4.30

$3.25 BND 4.15

3.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 BND 1.95

$1.12 BND 1.43

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.59 BND 19.95

$15.34 BND 19.64

1.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 BND 0.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 BND 5.83

$4.81 BND 6.16

-5.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 BND 3.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.82 BND 15.13

$11.77 BND 15.06

0.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 BND 0.52

$0.32 BND 0.41

28.12%

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

$39.2K BND 50.2K

$38.9K BND 49.8K

0.73%

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

$36.2K BND 46.4K

$36.8K BND 47.1K

-1.60%

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

$61.0 BND 78.0

$59.6 BND 76.3

2.32%

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

$22.79 BND 29.16

$15.44 BND 19.75

47.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 BND 83.7

$64.1 BND 82.0

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.66 BND 48.20

$27.29 BND 34.92

38.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.85 BND 3.64

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 BND 6.79

$5.61 BND 7.17

-5.35%

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

$157 BND 201

$156 BND 199

0.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,544 BND 12.2K

$9,317 BND 11.9K

2.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.4 BND 121

$30.93 BND 39.58

205.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 BND 88.3

$27.30 BND 34.93

152.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BND 137

$50.6 BND 64.7

112.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.7 BND 82.8

$47.60 BND 60.9

35.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 BND 931

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 BND 594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 BND 1,693

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$827 BND 1,059

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,105 BND 3,974

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,340 BND 2,995

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,937 BND 2,479

$697 BND 892

177.83%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seria: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 178% 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 $27.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $28.00 in Seria. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $207 in Seria – so Seria wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 110%, 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 $1,721 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $819 in Seria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $28.00 in Seria. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Bandar Seri Begawan, 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 Seria, where all-in costs run around $546, than in Bandar Seri Begawan at $1,148. 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.