Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bandar Seri Begawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bandar Seri Begawan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,148 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,748 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $2,347 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 93% more than Bandar Seri Begawan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Bandar Seri Begawan is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$3.79 BND 4.86
319.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$27.46 BND 35.22
135.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$5.99 BND 7.68
75.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.91 BND 2.45
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.39 BND 3.07
-
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.73 BND 4.79
-23.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.97 BND 1.24
130.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.56 BND 0.72
167.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.89 BND 2.42
-39.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.70 BND 2.18
2.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.29 BND 1.66
36.43%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.23 BND 2.86
44.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$7.18 BND 9.21
87.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.50 BND 5.78
75.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$11.26 BND 14.44
40.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.18 BND 4.08
-27.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.66 BND 3.41
-36.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.15 BND 4.04
-36.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.87 BND 3.69
-14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.64 BND 2.10
12.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.15 BND 2.76
-6.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$3.51 BND 4.50
-45.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.75 BND 0.97
5.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$13.09 BND 16.79
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.36 BND 4.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.52 BND 1.95
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$15.59 BND 19.99
-57.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.76 BND 0.97
211.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$4.55 BND 5.84
-5.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.66 BND 3.42
-69.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$11.82 BND 15.17
54.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.41 BND 0.52
402.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$39.2K BND 50.3K
-12.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$36.2K BND 46.5K
8.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$61.0 BND 78.2
142.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$22.79 BND 29.23
-9.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$65.4 BND 83.9
-39.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$37.66 BND 48.31
27.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$2.85 BND 3.65
563.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$5.31 BND 6.81
72.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$157 BND 201
291.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$9,544 BND 12.2K
68.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$94.4 BND 121
10.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$69.0 BND 88.5
-39.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$107 BND 138
-12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$64.7 BND 83.0
84.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$727 BND 933
123.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$464 BND 595
170.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,323 BND 1,697
129.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$827 BND 1,061
144.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$3,105 BND 3,983
151.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$2,340 BND 3,002
82.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bandar Seri Begawan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$1,937 BND 2,485
-17.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.06
-6.16%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $727 in Bandar Seri Begawan. 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 21% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $27.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $219 – making Bandar Seri Begawan 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
Lisbon vs Bandar Seri Begawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bandar Seri Begawan cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,721 in Bandar Seri Begawan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandar Seri Begawan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Bandar Seri Begawan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $27.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Bandar Seri Begawan?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Bandar Seri Begawan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Seri Begawan, where all-in costs run around $1,148, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Bandar Seri Begawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Bandar Seri Begawan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bandar Seri Begawan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Bandar Seri Begawan?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bandar Seri Begawan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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