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 $1,933 per month in Kuala Belait vs $581 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,865 per month in Kuala Belait vs $902 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,797 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,224 in Seria, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 233% more than Seria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Kuala Belait sits 41% above the global median, while Seria is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.65 BND 9.72

$3.18 BND 4.04

140.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 BND 60.1

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 BND 10.05

$5.42 BND 6.89

45.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BND 3.78

$1.54 BND 1.95

93.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 BND 3.07

$2.30 BND 2.93

4.78%

Cappuccino

$4.64 BND 5.90

$3.90 BND 4.95

18.97%

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

$1.28 BND 1.63

$1.53 BND 1.94

-16.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 BND 1.17

$0.77 BND 0.98

19.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.54 BND 3.22

$3.23 BND 4.10

-21.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 BND 3.11

$1.43 BND 1.82

70.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.84

$4.05 BND 5.14

-44.94%

Eggs

$2.71 BND 3.44

$1.37 BND 1.74

97.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.98 BND 24.13

$6.10 BND 7.75

211.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.60 BND 12.20

$4.80 BND 6.10

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.17 BND 31.99

$19.66 BND 24.99

28.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 BND 5.91

$4.84 BND 6.15

-3.93%

Banana (1kg)

$6.53 BND 8.29

$3.82 BND 4.86

70.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 BND 6.44

$3.82 BND 4.85

32.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 BND 8.94

$3.23 BND 4.11

117.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 BND 4.18

$3.11 BND 3.95

5.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 BND 3.70

$2.29 BND 2.91

27.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.47 BND 6.96

$5.51 BND 7.01

-0.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 BND 1.61

$0.77 BND 0.98

64.94%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.57 BND 14.71

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.94 BND 7.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BND 1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.78 BND 9.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BND 0.45

$0.33 BND 0.41

9.09%

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

$31.3K BND 39.7K

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

$27.0K BND 34.3K

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

$39.36 BND 50.0

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

$21.33 BND 27.11

$15.68 BND 19.93

36.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$176 BND 223

$68.1 BND 86.5

158.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 BND 127

$27.02 BND 34.34

270.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 BND 35.49

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 BND 6.86

$5.63 BND 7.15

-4.26%

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

$238 BND 302

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,270 BND 11.8K

$19.1K BND 24.3K

-51.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$31.59 BND 40.16

212.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$102 BND 129

$27.06 BND 34.40

275.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$156 BND 199

$50.2 BND 63.9

210.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$176 BND 224

$47.20 BND 60.0

273.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 BND 959

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 BND 986

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 BND 1,519

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 BND 1,477

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,423 BND 4,350

$710 BND 902

382.22%

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: August 31, 2026

Last update for Seria: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 382% higher in Kuala Belait, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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: $1,933 in Kuala Belait, $581 in Seria – roughly 233% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,900 per month in Kuala Belait and $871 in Seria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,933 in Kuala Belait and $581 in Seria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Kuala Belait, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Seria, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Kuala Belait at $1,933. 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.