Cost of Living Comparison Between Bintulu and Nis Cost of Living Comparison Between Bintulu and Nis

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Bintulu versus $1,023 in Nis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,232 in Bintulu versus $1,501 in Nis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,681 in Bintulu versus $1,979 in Nis.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 23% less than in Nis, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu 42% lower, Nis 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 MYR 15.04

$7.23 RSD 728

-48.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.52 MYR 70.5

$29.67 RSD 2,989

-40.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 MYR 22.98

$9.99 RSD 1,007

-42.84%

Cappuccino

$2.91 MYR 11.72

$1.99 RSD 201

46.23%

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

$0.66 MYR 2.66

$1.82 RSD 184

-63.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MYR 1.59

$1.22 RSD 123

-67.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 11.06

$2.54 RSD 256

8.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 MYR 20.14

$2.91 RSD 293

71.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MYR 6.95

$1.33 RSD 134

30.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 MYR 5.49

$0.74 RSD 75.0

83.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.14

$1.81 RSD 182

-29.28%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.83

$2.44 RSD 245

-10.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 MYR 66.7

$7.78 RSD 784

112.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 MYR 13.46

$6.65 RSD 670

-49.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.74 MYR 23.10

$11.70 RSD 1,178

-50.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.81

$1.19 RSD 119

42.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 MYR 3.88

$1.72 RSD 174

-43.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.58

$1.46 RSD 147

11.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.52

$1.78 RSD 180

-37.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 MYR 2.10

$1.02 RSD 103

-49.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.63

$1.13 RSD 114

1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 MYR 2.90

$0.55 RSD 55.1

30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.58

$0.57 RSD 57.1

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 MYR 15.88

$4.23 RSD 426

-6.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 77.5

$6.31 RSD 636

204.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.18

$0.73 RSD 73.7

280.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 MYR 7.82

$2.04 RSD 206

-4.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 MYR 4.63

$0.80 RSD 80.7

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.56 MYR 62.6

$25.95 RSD 2,615

-40.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.92

$1.45 RSD 146

-33.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 MYR 3.47

$0.45 RSD 45.76

91.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 MYR 9.43

$6.82 RSD 687

-65.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$1.75 RSD 176

-70.86%

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

$41.9K MYR 168.8K

$30.2K RSD 3.0M

38.80%

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

$37.5K MYR 151.0K

$27.4K RSD 2.8M

36.85%

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

$57.1 MYR 230

$141 RSD 14.2K

-59.52%

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

$9.31 MYR 37.49

$16.68 RSD 1,680

-44.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.85 MYR 120

$22.71 RSD 2,288

31.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 MYR 260

$29.35 RSD 2,956

120.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.31

$18.77 RSD 1,891

-69.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 MYR 16.82

$4.80 RSD 483

-12.92%

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

$121 MYR 486

$239 RSD 24.1K

-49.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,933 MYR 27.9K

$5,050 RSD 508.8K

37.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 247

$90.2 RSD 9,086

-31.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.41 MYR 134

$46.77 RSD 4,712

-28.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 MYR 314

$93.6 RSD 9,431

-16.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 MYR 349

$104 RSD 10.5K

-16.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 MYR 842

$401 RSD 40.4K

-47.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 MYR 615

$286 RSD 28.8K

-46.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,872

$567 RSD 57.1K

-17.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 MYR 1,291

$412 RSD 41.5K

-22.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,779 MYR 7,161

$2,613 RSD 263.2K

-31.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 MYR 4,834

$1,894 RSD 190.9K

-36.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 MYR 2,511

$907 RSD 91.4K

-31.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

7.45

-39.60%

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

Last update for Bintulu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nis: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Bintulu and $401 in Nis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nis pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bintulu vs $30.00 in Nis. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $195, with Nis cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bintulu vs Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Nis. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Nis earns 45% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $209 in Bintulu versus $401 in Nis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $784 per month in Bintulu versus $1,023 in Nis – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 67% less than in Nis. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bintulu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bintulu and Nis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Nis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.