Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Kuala Belait Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Kuala Belait

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,642 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $2,431 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $3,220 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Mexico City is about 11% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Kuala Belait sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Kuala Belait by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$3.62 BND 4.65

264.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$934

$46.89 BND 60.1

14.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$7.69 BND 9.86

22.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.96

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.5

$4.51 BND 5.78

-21.29%

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

$1.62 MX$28.03

$0.97 BND 1.24

67.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.31

$0.56 BND 0.72

98.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.48

$2.45 BND 3.14

-30.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.10

$2.49 BND 3.20

9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.13

$2.29 BND 2.93

-16.59%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.94

$2.60 BND 3.34

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$18.55 BND 23.79

-45.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$9.84 BND 12.62

-17.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$25.05 BND 32.13

-53.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.4

$4.68 BND 6.00

-36.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.30

$2.63 BND 3.38

-31.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.88

$3.10 BND 3.98

-35.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.26

$2.80 BND 3.59

-27.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.82

$1.64 BND 2.10

29.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.32

$2.21 BND 2.84

2.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.26

$5.49 BND 7.05

-74.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.59

$0.81 BND 1.04

39.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.91 BND 7.58

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.0

$7.62 BND 9.78

-43.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$270

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.84

$4.56 BND 5.85

-69.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.4

$11.88 BND 15.24

-54.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.60

$0.35 BND 0.45

271.43%

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

$18.7K MX$323.8K

$23.0K BND 29.5K

-18.73%

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

$23.1K MX$400.8K

$26.9K BND 34.4K

-13.87%

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

$40.86 MX$708

$39.27 BND 50.4

4.05%

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

$26.81 MX$465

$21.38 BND 27.43

25.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$519

$64.1 BND 82.2

-53.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$901

$96.8 BND 124

-46.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$465

$21.48 BND 27.55

24.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

$5.33 BND 6.84

18.20%

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

$436 MX$7,558

$157 BND 201

178.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.5K

$9,152 BND 11.7K

13.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$982

$98.8 BND 127

-42.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$769

$99.5 BND 128

-55.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,784

$125 BND 160

-17.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,829

$64.8 BND 83.1

62.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

$727 BND 932

40.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

$766 BND 982

-17.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$37.0K

$1,167 BND 1,498

82.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$1,166 BND 1,496

6.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

$3,392 BND 4,351

-67.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

4.06

179.31%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $727 in Kuala Belait. 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 204% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $47.00 in Kuala Belait. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Mexico City vs $356 in Kuala Belait – 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

Mexico City vs Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City, $1,642 in Kuala Belait – roughly 12% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $2,463 in Kuala Belait. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City and $1,642 in Kuala Belait. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $157 in Kuala Belait. 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 $1,467, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City to $1,642 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.