Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Bintulu Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Bintulu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,023 in Nis versus $784 in Bintulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Nis versus $1,232 in Bintulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,979 in Nis versus $1,681 in Bintulu.

Living in Nis is roughly 31% more expensive than Bintulu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nis 24% lower, Bintulu 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.23 RSD 728

$3.74 MYR 15.04

93.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.67 RSD 2,989

$17.52 MYR 70.5

69.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.99 RSD 1,007

$5.71 MYR 22.98

74.96%

Cappuccino

$1.99 RSD 201

$2.91 MYR 11.72

-31.62%

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

$1.82 RSD 184

$0.66 MYR 2.66

175.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 RSD 123

$0.40 MYR 1.59

205.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 RSD 256

$2.75 MYR 11.06

-7.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 RSD 293

$5.00 MYR 20.14

-41.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 RSD 134

$1.73 MYR 6.95

-23.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 RSD 75.0

$1.36 MYR 5.49

-45.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 RSD 182

$1.28 MYR 5.14

41.41%

Eggs

$2.44 RSD 245

$2.19 MYR 8.83

11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 RSD 784

$16.56 MYR 66.7

-53.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 RSD 670

$3.34 MYR 13.46

99.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 RSD 1,178

$5.74 MYR 23.10

103.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 RSD 119

$1.69 MYR 6.81

-29.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RSD 174

$0.97 MYR 3.88

77.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 RSD 147

$1.63 MYR 6.58

-10.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 RSD 180

$1.12 MYR 4.52

58.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 RSD 103

$0.52 MYR 2.10

96.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 RSD 114

$1.15 MYR 4.63

-1.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 RSD 55.1

$0.72 MYR 2.90

-23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 RSD 57.1

$0.39 MYR 1.58

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 RSD 426

$3.95 MYR 15.88

7.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 RSD 636

$19.24 MYR 77.5

-67.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 RSD 73.7

$2.78 MYR 11.18

-73.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 RSD 206

$1.94 MYR 7.82

5.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 RSD 80.7

$1.15 MYR 4.63

-30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.95 RSD 2,615

$15.56 MYR 62.6

66.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 RSD 146

$0.97 MYR 3.92

49.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 RSD 45.76

$0.86 MYR 3.47

-47.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 RSD 687

$2.34 MYR 9.43

191.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 RSD 176

$0.51 MYR 2.06

243.14%

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

$30.2K RSD 3.0M

$41.9K MYR 168.8K

-27.95%

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

$27.4K RSD 2.8M

$37.5K MYR 151.0K

-26.93%

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

$141 RSD 14.2K

$57.1 MYR 230

147.03%

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

$16.68 RSD 1,680

$9.31 MYR 37.49

79.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.71 RSD 2,288

$29.85 MYR 120

-23.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.35 RSD 2,956

$64.7 MYR 260

-54.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 RSD 1,891

$5.79 MYR 23.31

224.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 RSD 483

$4.18 MYR 16.82

14.83%

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

$239 RSD 24.1K

$121 MYR 486

97.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,050 RSD 508.8K

$6,933 MYR 27.9K

-27.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.2 RSD 9,086

$61.3 MYR 247

47.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.77 RSD 4,712

$33.41 MYR 134

39.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 RSD 9,431

$78.1 MYR 314

19.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 RSD 10.5K

$86.8 MYR 349

19.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$401 RSD 40.4K

$209 MYR 842

91.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 RSD 28.8K

$153 MYR 615

87.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RSD 57.1K

$465 MYR 1,872

21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 RSD 41.5K

$321 MYR 1,291

28.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,613 RSD 263.2K

$1,779 MYR 7,161

46.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,894 RSD 190.9K

$1,201 MYR 4,834

57.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$907 RSD 91.4K

$624 MYR 2,511

45.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.45

4.5

65.56%

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

Last update for Nis: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bintulu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $401 in Nis and $209 in Bintulu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nis pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Nis vs $18.00 in Bintulu. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $223, with Nis cheaper for home cooking.

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

Nis vs Bintulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Nis. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Nis pays 45% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $401 in Nis versus $209 in Bintulu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Nis versus $784 in Bintulu – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 67% less than in Nis. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bintulu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Nis and Bintulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Nis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.