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 $565 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,727 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $898 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,306 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,230 in Seria, rent included.

Bandar Seri Begawan costs about 103% 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 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.75 BND 4.84

$3.14 BND 4.06

19.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.73 BND 35.82

$27.15 BND 35.07

2.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 BND 8.06

$5.38 BND 6.95

15.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.57

$1.58 BND 2.04

25.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BND 2.94

$2.30 BND 2.98

-0.87%

Cappuccino

$3.81 BND 4.93

$3.83 BND 4.95

-0.52%

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

$1.00 BND 1.29

$0.92 BND 1.19

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 BND 0.74

$0.62 BND 0.80

-6.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 BND 2.49

$1.84 BND 2.38

4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 BND 2.31

$1.48 BND 1.91

20.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 BND 1.59

$1.30 BND 1.68

-5.38%

Eggs

$2.20 BND 2.84

$1.43 BND 1.85

53.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 BND 9.65

$6.06 BND 7.82

23.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 BND 5.85

$4.39 BND 5.67

3.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 BND 14.33

$11.36 BND 14.67

-2.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 BND 4.24

$3.13 BND 4.05

4.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 BND 3.29

$2.65 BND 3.42

-3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 BND 4.14

$3.15 BND 4.06

1.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.85 BND 3.68

$2.77 BND 3.58

2.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 BND 2.19

$1.63 BND 2.10

4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 BND 2.79

$2.24 BND 2.89

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.57 BND 4.61

$3.40 BND 4.39

5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BND 1.07

$0.76 BND 0.99

9.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.67 BND 16.36

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BND 4.33

$3.26 BND 4.21

2.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 BND 2.04

$1.07 BND 1.38

47.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.63 BND 20.19

$15.43 BND 19.93

1.30%

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

$4.78 BND 6.18

0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 BND 3.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.49 BND 14.85

$11.57 BND 14.94

-0.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BND 0.49

$0.30 BND 0.39

26.67%

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

$39.3K BND 50.8K

$39.5K BND 51.1K

-0.49%

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

$36.6K BND 47.3K

$36.5K BND 47.1K

0.35%

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

$60.4 BND 78.0

$59.5 BND 76.9

1.53%

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

$22.12 BND 28.57

$15.34 BND 19.82

44.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 BND 82.9

$66.3 BND 85.7

-3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.32 BND 48.20

$27.44 BND 35.44

36.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.84 BND 3.67

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 BND 7.19

$5.51 BND 7.12

0.91%

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

$161 BND 208

$159 BND 205

1.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,584 BND 12.4K

$9,566 BND 12.4K

0.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$97.0 BND 125

$30.67 BND 39.61

216.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 BND 89.2

$26.89 BND 34.73

156.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BND 139

$50.2 BND 64.8

115.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.1 BND 82.8

$46.00 BND 59.4

39.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 BND 954

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 BND 592

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 BND 1,710

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$812 BND 1,049

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

$682 BND 881

186.65%

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 Seria: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 187% 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 $27.00 in Seria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $208 – making Seria 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 Seria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bandar Seri Begawan is pricier by about 103%, 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 $1,722 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $848 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 $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $27.00 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 $565, 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.