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: $1,657 in Kuala Belait versus $1,457 in Arecibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,452 in Kuala Belait versus $2,192 in Arecibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,247 in Kuala Belait versus $2,928 in Arecibo.

Living in Kuala Belait is roughly 14% more expensive than in Arecibo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kuala Belait 24% above, Arecibo 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 BND 4.74

$12.02 $12.02

-69.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.09 BND 59.5

$49.65 $49.65

-7.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 BND 10.18

$7.68 $7.68

2.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 BND 2.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BND 3.00

Cappuccino

$4.62 BND 5.96

$3.34 $3.34

38.32%

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

$0.97 BND 1.25

$1.47 $1.47

-34.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 BND 0.79

$1.38 $1.38

-55.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 $2.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$1.70 $1.70

48.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$3.43 $3.43

-26.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 BND 2.95

$2.11 $2.11

8.06%

Eggs

$2.58 BND 3.33

$3.82 $3.82

-32.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.15 BND 24.73

$9.05 $9.05

111.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 BND 12.62

$6.64 $6.64

47.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.73 BND 31.93

$8.86 $8.86

179.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 BND 5.82

$5.78 $5.78

-22.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$1.92 $1.92

31.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 BND 4.11

$3.82 $3.82

-16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.78 BND 3.59

$3.95 $3.95

-29.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 BND 2.13

$3.86 $3.86

-57.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.88

$3.06 $3.06

-27.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.55 BND 7.17

$2.29 $2.29

142.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BND 0.98

$1.45 $1.45

-47.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.98 BND 7.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.01 BND 10.34

$8.22 $8.22

-2.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.37 $15.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.75 $39.75

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 BND 6.09

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.62 BND 15.01

$15.26 $15.26

-23.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BND 0.46

$0.95 $0.95

-62.11%

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

$22.9K BND 29.6K

$35.6K $35.6K

-35.65%

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

$27.1K BND 35.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

13.08%

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

$38.63 BND 49.87

$183 $183

-78.90%

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

$21.89 BND 28.26

$77.9 $77.9

-71.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 BND 83.2

$70.4 $70.4

-8.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.6 BND 126

$40.42 $40.42

141.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.79 BND 28.13

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 BND 7.20

$7.12 $7.12

-21.77%

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

$155 BND 201

$466 $466

-66.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,500 BND 12.3K

$3,970 $3,970

139.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.4 BND 127

$45.26 $45.26

117.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$103 BND 133

$15.25 $15.25

575.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 BND 157

$92.7 $92.7

31.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.5 BND 82.0

$81.4 $81.4

-21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$742 BND 958

$501 $501

48.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 BND 1,025

$397 $397

100.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 BND 1,521

$1,030 $1,030

14.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,507

$670 $670

74.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,320 BND 4,286

$1,184 $1,184

180.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.17

-2.64%

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arecibo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Kuala Belait and $501 in Arecibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Belait pays 180% 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: $46.00 in Kuala Belait vs $50.0 in Arecibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $330, 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 180% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Kuala Belait versus $501 in Arecibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Kuala Belait. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,657 per month in Kuala Belait versus $1,457 in Arecibo – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,457 in Arecibo versus $1,657 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 14% less than in Kuala Belait. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.