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 $1,642 per month in Kuala Belait vs $546 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,431 per month in Kuala Belait vs $893 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,220 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,241 in Seria, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 201% more than Seria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuala Belait sits 23% above the global median, while Seria is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 BND 4.63

$3.10 BND 3.97

16.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.89 BND 60.0

$27.55 BND 35.26

70.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 BND 9.84

$5.59 BND 7.15

37.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

$1.60 BND 2.05

24.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.95

$2.40 BND 3.07

-4.17%

Cappuccino

$4.51 BND 5.77

$3.85 BND 4.93

17.14%

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

$0.97 BND 1.23

$0.94 BND 1.20

3.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$0.60 BND 0.77

-6.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 BND 3.14

$1.88 BND 2.41

30.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 BND 3.19

$1.42 BND 1.82

75.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BND 2.93

$1.26 BND 1.61

81.75%

Eggs

$2.60 BND 3.33

$1.37 BND 1.76

89.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.55 BND 23.73

$6.38 BND 8.17

190.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 BND 12.59

$4.33 BND 5.54

127.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.05 BND 32.05

$11.45 BND 14.65

118.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 BND 5.99

$3.11 BND 3.98

50.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 BND 3.37

$2.53 BND 3.24

3.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 BND 3.97

$3.03 BND 3.88

2.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 BND 3.58

$2.76 BND 3.53

1.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 BND 2.10

$1.66 BND 2.12

-1.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 BND 2.83

$2.14 BND 2.74

3.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.49 BND 7.03

$3.37 BND 4.31

62.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BND 1.04

$0.75 BND 0.96

8.00%

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

$3.25 BND 4.15

81.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

$1.12 BND 1.43

38.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 BND 9.75

$15.34 BND 19.64

-50.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 BND 5.83

$4.81 BND 6.16

-5.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.88 BND 15.21

$11.77 BND 15.06

0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BND 0.45

$0.32 BND 0.41

9.37%

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

$23.0K BND 29.4K

$38.9K BND 49.8K

-40.93%

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

$26.9K BND 34.4K

$36.8K BND 47.1K

-27.08%

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

$39.27 BND 50.3

$59.6 BND 76.3

-34.10%

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

$21.38 BND 27.36

$15.44 BND 19.75

38.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 BND 82.0

0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.8 BND 124

$27.29 BND 34.92

254.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BND 27.48

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 BND 6.83

$5.61 BND 7.17

-4.99%

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

$157 BND 201

$156 BND 199

0.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,152 BND 11.7K

$9,317 BND 11.9K

-1.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$30.93 BND 39.58

219.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$99.5 BND 127

$27.30 BND 34.93

264.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 BND 160

$50.6 BND 64.7

147.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 BND 82.9

$47.60 BND 60.9

36.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 BND 930

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 BND 980

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,494

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 BND 1,493

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,392 BND 4,341

$697 BND 892

386.46%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Seria: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 386% 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 $28.00 in Seria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $207 – 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: $1,642 in Kuala Belait, $546 in Seria – roughly 201% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,463 per month in Kuala Belait and $819 in Seria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,642 in Kuala Belait and $546 in Seria. 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 $156 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 $546, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. 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.