Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Arecibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Arecibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,933 in Kuala Belait versus $1,287 in Arecibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,865 in Kuala Belait versus $2,036 in Arecibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,797 in Kuala Belait versus $2,785 in Arecibo.

Living in Kuala Belait is roughly 50% more expensive than in Arecibo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuala Belait is 41% above, Arecibo is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 BND 9.72

$12.05 $12.05

-36.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 BND 60.1

$85.4 $85.4

-44.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 BND 10.05

$8.31 $8.31

-4.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BND 3.78

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 BND 3.07

Cappuccino

$4.64 BND 5.90

$3.40 $3.40

36.47%

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

$1.28 BND 1.63

$1.87 $1.87

-31.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 BND 1.17

$1.45 $1.45

-36.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 $3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 $5.01

Milk (1 liter)

$2.54 BND 3.22

$1.87 $1.87

35.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 BND 3.11

$3.36 $3.36

-27.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.84

$2.00 $2.00

11.50%

Eggs

$2.71 BND 3.44

$4.57 $4.57

-40.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.98 BND 24.13

$12.57 $12.57

50.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.60 BND 12.20

$9.40 $9.40

2.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.17 BND 31.99

$13.13 $13.13

91.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 BND 5.91

$5.18 $5.18

-10.23%

Banana (1kg)

$6.53 BND 8.29

$2.59 $2.59

152.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 BND 6.44

$4.91 $4.91

3.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 BND 8.94

$4.84 $4.84

45.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 BND 4.18

$3.70 $3.70

-11.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 BND 3.70

$3.89 $3.89

-25.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.47 BND 6.96

$3.43 $3.43

59.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 BND 1.61

$1.57 $1.57

-19.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.57 BND 14.71

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.94 BND 7.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.78 BND 9.89

$12.06 $12.06

-35.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.71 $15.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 $3.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.73 $39.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.75 $42.75

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BND 0.45

$0.89 $0.89

-59.55%

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

$31.3K BND 39.7K

$40.6K $40.6K

-23.02%

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

$27.0K BND 34.3K

$27.7K $27.7K

-2.53%

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

$39.36 BND 50.0

$324 $324

-87.84%

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

$21.33 BND 27.11

$69.2 $69.2

-69.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$176 BND 223

$64.2 $64.2

173.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 BND 127

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 BND 35.49

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 BND 6.86

$10.35 $10.35

-47.92%

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

$820 $820

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,270 BND 11.8K

$12.3K $12.3K

-24.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$56.5 $56.5

74.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$102 BND 129

$62.0 $62.0

63.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$156 BND 199

$110 $110

41.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$176 BND 224

$112 $112

57.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 BND 959

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 BND 986

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 BND 1,519

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 BND 1,477

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,423 BND 4,350

$1,192 $1,192

187.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arecibo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kuala Belait pays 187% 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: $47.00 in Kuala Belait vs $85.0 in Arecibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $421 vs $394, with Arecibo 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

Kuala Belait vs Arecibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arecibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 187% higher in Kuala Belait, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Kuala Belait. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Arecibo – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $47.00 in Kuala Belait. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,287 in Arecibo versus $1,933 in Kuala Belait, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Arecibo but tight or insufficient in Kuala Belait. The gap between the two cities makes Arecibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Kuala Belait and Arecibo 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 Arecibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Kuala Belait. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.