😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $815 in Brunei versus $391 in Pakistan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,271 in Brunei versus $592 in Pakistan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,727 in Brunei versus $792 in Pakistan.
🌍Living in Brunei is roughly 108% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Brunei 39% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Brunei: monthly costs span $3.00 to $1,657, compared to $286–$534 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Brunei.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.36BND 6.92
$1.81PKR 502
196.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.64BND 43.44
$12.15PKR 3,370
176.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38BND 8.24
$4.29PKR 1,189
48.72%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99BND 2.57
$1.75PKR 484
13.71%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38BND 3.07
$3.98PKR 1,105
-40.20%
Cappuccino
$4.01BND 5.17
$1.74PKR 482
130.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10BND 1.43
$0.36PKR 100
205.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76BND 0.99
$0.21PKR 58.2
261.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39BND 3.08
$0.78PKR 215
206.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98BND 2.55
$0.56PKR 154
253.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12BND 2.73
$1.21PKR 337
75.21%
Eggs
$2.36BND 3.05
$1.20PKR 334
96.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.51BND 20.03
$5.69PKR 1,577
172.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43BND 9.59
$2.84PKR 788
161.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.40BND 23.75
$4.09PKR 1,133
349.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.83BND 4.94
$1.00PKR 278
283.00%
Banana(1kg)
$3.26BND 4.21
$0.61PKR 170
434.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79BND 4.89
$0.76PKR 211
398.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72BND 4.80
$0.52PKR 145
615.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26BND 2.92
$0.38PKR 106
494.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54BND 3.28
$0.51PKR 143
398.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.78BND 6.17
$0.38PKR 106
1157.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00BND 1.29
$0.36PKR 98.7
177.78%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$11.68BND 15.08
$2.01PKR 558
481.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.30BND 6.84
$1.10PKR 304
381.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35BND 1.75
$2.08PKR 578
-35.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.64BND 15.03
$1.96PKR 544
493.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76BND 0.98
$0.20PKR 56.1
280.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.24PKR 2,008
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66BND 6.02
$0.84PKR 232
454.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62BND 3.38
$0.52PKR 145
403.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.68BND 15.07
$1.79PKR 496
552.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38BND 0.49
$0.89PKR 248
-57.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5KBND 30.4K
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
32.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KBND 40.1K
$23.7KPKR 6.6M
30.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.8BND 69.5
$110PKR 30.5K
-51.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.51BND 29.06
$4.58PKR 1,269
391.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.8BND 120
$15.58PKR 4,320
495.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.14BND 57.0
$13.28PKR 3,682
232.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.96BND 7.70
$8.84PKR 2,453
-32.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.42BND 7.00
$4.13PKR 1,147
31.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172BND 222
$39.62PKR 11.0K
333.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KBND 13.9K
$1,170PKR 324.5K
821.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8BND 108
$15.59PKR 4,324
437.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.6BND 83.3
$23.77PKR 6,593
171.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102BND 132
$71.9PKR 19.9K
42.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6BND 120
$32.15PKR 8,916
187.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$777BND 1,004
$115PKR 31.9K
576.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$513BND 663
$66.3PKR 18.4K
674.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,304BND 1,684
$274PKR 76.1K
375.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$855BND 1,104
$163PKR 45.1K
425.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,072BND 3,966
$965PKR 267.7K
218.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,273BND 2,935
$502PKR 139.2K
352.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brunei
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,254BND 2,910
$186PKR 51.5K
1113.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.05
18.97
-78.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brunei: July 11, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $296 in Brunei, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $739 in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $199 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $2,249 in Brunei, $181 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 279% higher in Brunei.
⭐Dining out costs 127% more in Brunei.
⭐Salaries are 1143% higher in Brunei, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brunei.
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
Brunei vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Brunei and Pakistan?
At $830 per month in Brunei and $410 in Pakistan, there's a 102% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Brunei is consistently higher than in Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Brunei or in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Brunei it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Brunei or to Pakistan?
It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; Brunei may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.