Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Bandar Seri Begawan: $1,170 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bandar Seri Begawan
🇧🇳 Brunei
$1,170
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bandar Seri Begawan and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bandar Seri Begawan and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,170 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bandar Seri Begawan $1,170
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

A couple spends around $1,711 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $2,314 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bandar Seri Begawan $1,711
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

A family of three spends $2,251 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $3,260 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Bandar Seri Begawan $2,251
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Bandar Seri Begawan is about 14% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Bandar Seri Begawan sits 13% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.94 BND 5.04
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
18.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.00 BND 34.54
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
-23.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.10 BND 7.80
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
5.17%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.01 BND 2.57
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 BND 2.95
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.01 BND 5.13
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
46.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 BND 1.22
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-42.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 BND 0.64
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-39.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 BND 2.41
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
26.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 BND 2.22
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-24.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 BND 1.54
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
1.69%
Eggs
$2.01 BND 2.57
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-6.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.43 BND 12.06
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-46.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.45 BND 5.69
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
10.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 BND 13.64
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-12.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 BND 3.90
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-14.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 BND 2.78
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
38.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 BND 3.73
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
29.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 BND 3.17
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
28.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 BND 2.15
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-10.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 BND 2.58
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-11.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.59 BND 4.60
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
262.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 BND 1.18
$0.53 Rp 9,475
73.58%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$23.08 BND 29.53
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29 BND 4.21
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.65 BND 20.03
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
586.40%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 BND 1.03
$0.24 Rp 4,315
233.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$0.76 BND 0.97
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-91.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.79 BND 4.85
$0.48 Rp 8,684
689.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.26 BND 4.17
$0.46 Rp 8,233
608.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.66 BND 14.92
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
113.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.40 BND 0.51
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
-54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K BND 54.6K
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
73.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K BND 47.4K
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
18.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.6 BND 77.5
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-27.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.95 BND 28.08
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
240.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3 BND 82.2
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
245.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.76 BND 58.5
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-18.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.87 BND 8.79
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-62.07%
Cinema Ticket
$5.49 BND 7.02
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
25.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$220 BND 281
$493 Rp 8.9M
-55.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,548 BND 12.2K
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
65.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1 BND 97.3
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
64.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$95.0 BND 122
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
168.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 BND 128
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
26.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0 BND 90.8
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-9.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 BND 932
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-36.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$466 BND 596
$676 Rp 12.2M
-31.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 BND 1,455
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-67.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 BND 898
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-58.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,058 BND 3,912
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
9.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,285 BND 2,924
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
2.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandar Seri Begawan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,773 BND 2,269
$165 Rp 3.0M
977.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.88
13.78
-71.84%

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

Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bandar Seri Begawan
$466
Ubud, Bali
$676 45% $210
Groceries & Markets
Bandar Seri Begawan
$218
Ubud, Bali
$290 33% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Bandar Seri Begawan
$154
Ubud, Bali
$108 30.2% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandar Seri Begawan
$147
Ubud, Bali
$108 26.4% $39
Eating Out
Bandar Seri Begawan
$104
Ubud, Bali
$109 4.8% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Bandar Seri Begawan
$57
Ubud, Bali
$65 13.8% $7.9
Getting Around
Bandar Seri Begawan
$24
Ubud, Bali
$13 47.9% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $728 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. 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 978% 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 $27.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $290 – making Bandar Seri Begawan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇳 Bandar Seri Begawan
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
08:54 8:54 AM
08:54 8:54 AM
Same time as Bandar Seri Begawan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
50,000 Capital
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to BND – Brunei Dollar Converter

Brunei Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 BND (1 BND = 0.782 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 BND (1 BND = 0.695 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bandar Seri Begawan Ubud, Bali 1,490 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bandar Seri Begawan
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Bandar Seri Begawan?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 17%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,755 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Bandar Seri Begawan and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,170 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. That's a gap of about 17%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1061% less in Bandar Seri Begawan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bandar Seri Begawan or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Seri Begawan, where all-in costs run around $1,170, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Bandar Seri Begawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bandar Seri Begawan or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Bandar Seri Begawan or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bandar Seri Begawan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Bandar Seri Begawan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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