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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,657 per month in Kuala Belait vs $565 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,452 per month in Kuala Belait vs $898 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,247 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,230 in Seria, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 193% more than Seria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuala Belait sits 24% above the global median, while Seria is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 BND 4.74

$3.14 BND 4.06

16.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.09 BND 59.5

$27.15 BND 35.07

69.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 BND 10.19

$5.38 BND 6.95

46.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 BND 2.48

$1.58 BND 2.04

21.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BND 3.00

$2.30 BND 2.98

0.87%

Cappuccino

$4.62 BND 5.97

$3.83 BND 4.95

20.63%

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

$0.97 BND 1.25

$0.92 BND 1.19

5.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 BND 0.79

$0.62 BND 0.80

-1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$1.84 BND 2.38

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$1.48 BND 1.91

70.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.28 BND 2.95

$1.30 BND 1.68

75.38%

Eggs

$2.58 BND 3.33

$1.43 BND 1.85

80.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.15 BND 24.74

$6.06 BND 7.82

216.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.77 BND 12.62

$4.39 BND 5.67

122.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.73 BND 31.94

$11.36 BND 14.67

117.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 BND 5.82

$3.13 BND 4.05

43.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 BND 3.27

$2.65 BND 3.42

-4.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 BND 4.12

$3.15 BND 4.06

1.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.78 BND 3.59

$2.77 BND 3.58

0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 BND 2.13

$1.63 BND 2.10

1.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.88

$2.24 BND 2.89

-0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.55 BND 7.17

$3.40 BND 4.39

63.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BND 0.98

$0.76 BND 0.99

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

$3.26 BND 4.21

83.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.06

$1.07 BND 1.38

48.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.01 BND 10.34

$15.43 BND 19.93

-48.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.72 BND 6.10

$4.78 BND 6.18

-1.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.62 BND 15.01

$11.57 BND 14.94

0.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BND 0.46

$0.30 BND 0.39

20.00%

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

$22.9K BND 29.6K

$39.5K BND 51.1K

-42.03%

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

$27.1K BND 35.0K

$36.5K BND 47.1K

-25.74%

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

$38.63 BND 49.89

$59.5 BND 76.9

-35.08%

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

$21.89 BND 28.27

$15.34 BND 19.82

42.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 BND 83.2

$66.3 BND 85.7

-2.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.6 BND 126

$27.44 BND 35.44

255.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.79 BND 28.14

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 BND 7.20

$5.51 BND 7.12

1.09%

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

$155 BND 201

$159 BND 205

-2.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,500 BND 12.3K

$9,566 BND 12.4K

-0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.4 BND 127

$30.67 BND 39.61

220.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$103 BND 133

$26.89 BND 34.73

283.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 BND 157

$50.2 BND 64.8

142.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.5 BND 82.1

$46.00 BND 59.4

38.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$742 BND 958

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 BND 1,026

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 BND 1,521

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,508

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,320 BND 4,288

$682 BND 881

386.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Last update for Seria: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 387% 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 $27.00 in Seria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $208 – making Seria the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Seria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,657 in Kuala Belait, $565 in Seria – roughly 193% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,486 per month in Kuala Belait and $848 in Seria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,657 in Kuala Belait and $565 in Seria. 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 $159 in Seria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Seria, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. In Seria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Seria. 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.