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 $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $1,657 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $2,452 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $3,247 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Mexico City is about 12% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mexico City and Kuala Belait sit above the global median – Mexico City by 9%, Kuala Belait by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$3.67 BND 4.73

256.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

$46.09 BND 59.5

16.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

$7.89 BND 10.18

22.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 BND 2.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BND 3.00

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$4.62 BND 5.96

-19.05%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$0.97 BND 1.25

67.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

$0.61 BND 0.79

90.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$2.53 BND 3.26

-34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$2.53 BND 3.27

8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$2.28 BND 2.95

-17.98%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$2.58 BND 3.32

-3.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

$19.15 BND 24.72

-46.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$9.77 BND 12.61

-15.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$24.73 BND 31.92

-52.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

$4.50 BND 5.81

-33.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$2.53 BND 3.27

-28.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

$3.19 BND 4.11

-37.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$2.78 BND 3.59

-28.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$1.65 BND 2.13

26.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

$2.23 BND 2.88

1.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

$5.55 BND 7.16

-73.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$0.76 BND 0.98

42.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.98 BND 7.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$8.01 BND 10.33

-45.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

$4.72 BND 6.09

-71.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

$11.62 BND 15.00

-54.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$0.36 BND 0.46

272.22%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

$22.9K BND 29.6K

-15.33%

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

$27.1K BND 34.9K

-11.97%

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

$40.69 MX$709

$38.63 BND 49.85

5.33%

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

$26.87 MX$468

$21.89 BND 28.25

22.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$64.4 BND 83.1

-52.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$97.6 BND 126

-45.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

$21.79 BND 28.12

22.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

$5.57 BND 7.19

16.88%

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

$428 MX$7,454

$155 BND 200

175.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

$9,500 BND 12.3K

10.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

$98.4 BND 127

-41.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

$103 BND 133

-55.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

$121 BND 157

-14.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$63.5 BND 82.0

69.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

$742 BND 957

35.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$794 BND 1,025

-21.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

$1,178 BND 1,520

79.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

$1,167 BND 1,507

4.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

$3,320 BND 4,284

-68.74%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $742 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 220% 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 $46.00 in Kuala Belait. Groceries tell a different story – $292 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: $1,456 in Mexico City, $1,657 in Kuala Belait – roughly 14% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $2,486 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 $1,456 in Mexico City and $1,657 in Kuala Belait. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City and $155 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 $1,456, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. 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 $1,456 in Mexico City to $1,657 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.