For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $1,379 in Brunei, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Brunei actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Pakistan versus $1,379 in Brunei.
Pakistan $483
Brunei $1,379
Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Pakistan versus $2,067 in Brunei.
Pakistan $736
Brunei $2,067
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Pakistan versus $2,755 in Brunei.
Pakistan $988
Brunei $2,755
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Brunei: monthly costs span $567 to $1,726, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Brunei.
🌍
Living in Pakistan costs about 65% less than in Brunei on average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 583
$4.82BND 6.16
-56.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97PKR 3,866
$37.32BND 47.68
-62.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.50PKR 1,523
$6.40BND 8.17
-14.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22PKR 616
$2.00BND 2.55
11.00%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31PKR 1,193
$2.28BND 2.91
89.04%
Cappuccino
$1.97PKR 546
$3.92BND 5.01
-49.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 105
$1.17BND 1.50
-67.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.7
$0.72BND 0.92
-68.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87PKR 240
$2.31BND 2.95
-62.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60PKR 165
$1.91BND 2.44
-68.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 335
$2.02BND 2.58
-40.10%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 334
$2.28BND 2.91
-46.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.42PKR 1,500
$16.87BND 21.55
-67.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83PKR 783
$7.52BND 9.60
-62.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.06PKR 1,400
$17.62BND 22.51
-71.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20PKR 331
$3.98BND 5.08
-69.85%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 176
$3.66BND 4.68
-82.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87PKR 241
$3.52BND 4.50
-75.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54PKR 149
$4.16BND 5.32
-87.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 91.8
$2.50BND 3.19
-86.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$2.39BND 3.05
-83.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37PKR 104
$4.50BND 5.75
-91.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41PKR 113
$1.00BND 1.28
-59.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.08PKR 575
$15.85BND 20.25
-86.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07PKR 296
$5.18BND 6.62
-79.34%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36PKR 652
$1.07BND 1.37
120.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 593
$11.76BND 15.03
-81.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 55.0
$0.75BND 0.96
-73.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01PKR 2,768
$24.09BND 30.77
-58.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88PKR 243
$3.97BND 5.07
-77.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56PKR 155
$3.28BND 4.19
-82.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.22PKR 614
$11.77BND 15.04
-81.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29PKR 357
$0.37BND 0.47
248.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$42.4KBND 54.1K
-58.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
$30.2KBND 38.6K
-19.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110PKR 30.5K
$56.9BND 72.7
93.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,496
$21.37BND 27.30
-74.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.79PKR 4,369
$92.3BND 118
-82.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50PKR 5,119
$49.74BND 63.5
-62.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09PKR 3,067
$5.51BND 7.03
101.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.32PKR 1,195
$5.54BND 7.08
-22.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.4PKR 15.6K
$181BND 231
-68.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,511PKR 418.2K
$11.5KBND 14.7K
-86.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.56PKR 4,859
$76.4BND 97.6
-77.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58PKR 6,523
$84.4BND 108
-72.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7PKR 21.2K
$111BND 142
-30.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.08PKR 9,706
$98.6BND 126
-64.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$150PKR 41.5K
$728BND 931
-79.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$87.4PKR 24.2K
$502BND 641
-82.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320PKR 88.7K
$1,172BND 1,497
-72.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190PKR 52.5K
$785BND 1,002
-75.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$970PKR 268.5K
$3,082BND 3,937
-68.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$520PKR 144.0K
$2,263BND 2,891
-77.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$192PKR 53.2K
$2,217BND 2,832
-91.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.1
3.88
263.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026
Last update for Brunei: October 27, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$131 27.2%
Brunei
$171 12.4% ↑ 29.8%$39
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$94 19.5%
Brunei
$319 23.2% ↑ 240%$226
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$87 18.1%
Brunei
$502 36.4% ↑ 474%$414
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$69 14.3%
Brunei
$167 12.1% ↑ 142%$98
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$59 12.3%
Brunei
$112 8.2% ↑ 89%$53
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$27 5.6%
Brunei
$61 4.4% ↑ 124%$34
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$14 3%
Brunei
$47 3.4% ↑ 228%$33
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$137 13.9%
Brunei
$192 7% ↑ 40.2%$55
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$228 23%
Brunei
$774 28.1% ↑ 240%$546
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$190 19.2%
Brunei
$785 28.5% ↑ 313%$595
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$153 15.5%
Brunei
$370 13.4% ↑ 142%$217
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$186 18.9%
Brunei
$411 14.9% ↑ 121%$225
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$65 6.6%
Brunei
$127 4.6% ↑ 94.6%$62
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$29 3%
Brunei
$96 3.5% ↑ 228%$67
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $137 in Pakistan, $728 in Brunei. Capital cities: $261 in Islamabad vs $726 in Bandar Seri Begawan.
💰National salary averages: $185 in Pakistan, $2,209 in Brunei. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 431% higher in Brunei.
⭐Dining out costs 146% more in Brunei.
⭐Public transport is 130% more expensive in Brunei.
⭐Salaries are about 12 times higher in Brunei, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brunei.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Pakistan vs Brunei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Brunei and Pakistan?
At $1,379 per month in Brunei and $483 in Pakistan, Pakistan comes out about 65% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $728 in Brunei and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Brunei or in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Brunei it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you’ll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Brunei or to Pakistan?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.