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 $1,657 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,452 per month in Kuala Belait vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,247 per month in Kuala Belait vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 14% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuala Belait and Mexico City sit above the global median – Kuala Belait by 24%, Mexico City by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 BND 4.74

$13.07 MX$229

-71.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.09 BND 59.5

$53.8 MX$943

-14.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 BND 10.19

$9.68 MX$170

-18.49%

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 5.97

$3.74 MX$65.6

23.53%

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

$0.97 BND 1.25

$1.62 MX$28.34

-40.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 BND 0.79

$1.16 MX$20.37

-47.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$83.1

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$1.65 MX$28.89

53.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$2.75 MX$48.30

-8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 BND 2.95

$1.87 MX$32.87

21.93%

Eggs

$2.58 BND 3.33

$2.50 MX$43.86

3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.15 BND 24.74

$10.20 MX$179

87.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 BND 12.62

$8.25 MX$145

18.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.73 BND 31.94

$11.82 MX$207

109.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 BND 5.82

$3.01 MX$52.8

49.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$1.81 MX$31.77

39.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 BND 4.12

$2.00 MX$35.07

59.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.78 BND 3.59

$2.00 MX$35.00

39.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 BND 2.13

$2.08 MX$36.56

-20.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.88

$2.27 MX$39.85

-1.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.55 BND 7.17

$1.46 MX$25.55

280.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BND 0.98

$1.08 MX$18.88

-29.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.98 BND 7.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.06

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.01 BND 10.34

$4.35 MX$76.3

84.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$298

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$328

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 BND 6.10

$1.33 MX$23.25

254.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.62 BND 15.01

$5.25 MX$92.1

121.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BND 0.46

$1.34 MX$23.44

-73.13%

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

$22.9K BND 29.6K

$19.4K MX$340.5K

18.10%

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

$27.1K BND 35.0K

$23.8K MX$418.0K

13.60%

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

$38.63 BND 49.89

$40.69 MX$714

-5.06%

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

$21.89 BND 28.27

$26.87 MX$471

-18.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 BND 83.2

$30.51 MX$535

111.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.6 BND 126

$52.8 MX$926

84.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.79 BND 28.14

$26.65 MX$467

-18.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 BND 7.20

$6.51 MX$114

-14.44%

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

$155 BND 201

$428 MX$7,508

-63.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,500 BND 12.3K

$10.5K MX$184.2K

-9.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.4 BND 127

$57.3 MX$1,004

71.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$103 BND 133

$45.50 MX$798

126.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 BND 157

$104 MX$1,825

16.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.5 BND 82.1

$108 MX$1,891

-41.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$742 BND 958

$1,003 MX$17.6K

-26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 BND 1,026

$623 MX$10.9K

27.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 BND 1,521

$2,109 MX$37.0K

-44.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,508

$1,218 MX$21.4K

-4.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$68.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,320 BND 4,288

$1,038 MX$18.2K

219.88%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $742 in Kuala Belait versus $1,003 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 220% 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 $46.00 in Kuala Belait versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Kuala Belait vs $292 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: $1,657 in Kuala Belait, $1,456 in Mexico City – roughly 14% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,486 per month in Kuala Belait and $2,185 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 $1,657 in Kuala Belait and $1,456 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $155 per month in Kuala Belait and $428 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 $1,456, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. 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 $1,456 in Mexico City to $1,657 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.