Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,642 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,431 per month in Kuala Belait vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,220 per month in Kuala Belait vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 12% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuala Belait and Mexico City sit above the global median – Kuala Belait by 23%, Mexico City by 10%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 BND 4.63

$13.18 MX$228

-72.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.89 BND 60.0

$53.9 MX$932

-13.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 BND 9.84

$9.42 MX$163

-18.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.95

Cappuccino

$4.51 BND 5.77

$3.55 MX$61.4

27.04%

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

$0.97 BND 1.23

$1.62 MX$27.98

-40.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$1.11 MX$19.27

-49.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 BND 3.14

$1.70 MX$29.43

44.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 BND 3.19

$2.72 MX$47.02

-8.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BND 2.93

$1.91 MX$33.07

19.90%

Eggs

$2.60 BND 3.33

$2.54 MX$43.86

2.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.55 BND 23.73

$10.03 MX$174

84.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 BND 12.59

$8.09 MX$140

21.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.05 BND 32.05

$11.62 MX$201

115.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 BND 5.99

$2.97 MX$51.3

57.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 BND 3.37

$1.81 MX$31.24

45.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 BND 3.97

$2.01 MX$34.82

54.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 BND 3.58

$2.03 MX$35.20

37.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 BND 2.10

$2.12 MX$36.75

-22.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 BND 2.83

$2.27 MX$39.25

-2.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.49 BND 7.03

$1.40 MX$24.22

292.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BND 1.04

$1.13 MX$19.55

-28.32%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.91 BND 7.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 BND 9.75

$4.27 MX$73.9

78.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 BND 5.83

$1.38 MX$23.79

230.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.88 BND 15.21

$5.45 MX$94.2

117.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BND 0.45

$1.30 MX$22.55

-73.08%

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

$23.0K BND 29.4K

$18.7K MX$323.2K

23.05%

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

$26.9K BND 34.4K

$23.1K MX$400.1K

16.11%

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

$39.27 BND 50.3

$40.86 MX$707

-3.89%

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

$21.38 BND 27.36

$26.81 MX$464

-20.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 BND 82.0

$29.96 MX$518

113.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.8 BND 124

$52.0 MX$900

86.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BND 27.48

$26.84 MX$464

-19.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 BND 6.83

$6.30 MX$109

-15.40%

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

$157 BND 201

$436 MX$7,544

-64.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,152 BND 11.7K

$10.4K MX$180.2K

-12.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$56.7 MX$980

74.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$99.5 BND 127

$44.38 MX$768

124.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 BND 160

$103 MX$1,780

21.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 BND 82.9

$106 MX$1,825

-38.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 BND 930

$1,022 MX$17.7K

-28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 BND 980

$631 MX$10.9K

21.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,494

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-45.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 BND 1,493

$1,243 MX$21.5K

-6.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,392 BND 4,341

$1,115 MX$19.3K

204.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

11.34

-64.20%

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Kuala Belait versus $1,022 in Mexico City. 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 204% higher in Kuala Belait, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Kuala Belait versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Kuala Belait vs $288 in Mexico City – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,642 in Kuala Belait, $1,467 in Mexico City – roughly 12% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,463 per month in Kuala Belait and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,642 in Kuala Belait and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Kuala Belait and $436 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,467 in Mexico City to $1,642 in Kuala Belait. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.