🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $392 in Pakistan versus $814 in Brunei.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $592 in Pakistan versus $1,266 in Brunei.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $792 in Pakistan versus $1,717 in Brunei.
🙂Living in Pakistan costs about 52% less than in Brunei on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan71% lower, Brunei39% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Brunei: monthly costs span $3.00 to $1,669, compared to $289–$533 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Brunei.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75PKR 488
$5.15BND 6.59
-66.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.30PKR 3,421
$32.71BND 41.89
-62.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.12PKR 1,147
$6.20BND 7.94
-33.55%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76PKR 488
$1.94BND 2.48
-9.28%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18PKR 1,161
$2.31BND 2.95
80.95%
Cappuccino
$1.72PKR 479
$4.07BND 5.22
-57.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 92.6
$1.14BND 1.47
-71.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 58.2
$0.76BND 0.98
-72.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82PKR 227
$2.30BND 2.94
-64.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55PKR 152
$1.93BND 2.47
-71.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 325
$2.11BND 2.70
-44.55%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 337
$2.47BND 3.17
-51.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.92PKR 1,645
$15.65BND 20.04
-62.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.91PKR 810
$7.06BND 9.05
-58.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.14PKR 1,151
$18.69BND 23.93
-77.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.06PKR 294
$3.87BND 4.96
-72.61%
Banana(1kg)
$0.62PKR 172
$3.25BND 4.16
-80.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76PKR 213
$3.79BND 4.86
-79.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53PKR 147
$3.80BND 4.87
-86.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38PKR 106
$2.17BND 2.78
-82.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$2.52BND 3.23
-80.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38PKR 106
$4.67BND 5.98
-91.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 108
$1.00BND 1.28
-61.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.99PKR 552
$11.48BND 14.70
-82.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06PKR 295
$5.05BND 6.47
-79.01%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01PKR 558
$1.32BND 1.68
52.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04PKR 567
$11.76BND 15.06
-82.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 56.5
$0.76BND 0.97
-73.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.26PKR 2,020
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90PKR 252
$4.80BND 6.15
-81.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52PKR 146
$2.56BND 3.28
-79.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.74PKR 484
$11.73BND 15.03
-85.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 268
$0.40BND 0.51
140.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
$23.1KBND 29.6K
-24.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KPKR 6.5M
$31.1KBND 39.8K
-24.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111PKR 30.9K
$54.1BND 69.3
105.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55PKR 1,266
$21.82BND 27.95
-79.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.24PKR 4,236
$90.2BND 116
-83.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.26PKR 3,686
$45.21BND 57.9
-70.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.49PKR 2,360
$5.83BND 7.47
45.63%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28PKR 1,191
$5.59BND 7.15
-23.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.97PKR 10.8K
$175BND 225
-77.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,177PKR 327.3K
$10.6KBND 13.6K
-88.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.65PKR 4,352
$84.0BND 108
-81.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.01PKR 6,398
$65.2BND 83.5
-64.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.5PKR 20.2K
$98.6BND 126
-26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.10PKR 8,925
$91.5BND 117
-64.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$111PKR 30.8K
$780BND 999
-85.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$66.4PKR 18.5K
$512BND 656
-87.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271PKR 75.5K
$1,296BND 1,660
-79.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166PKR 46.0K
$859BND 1,100
-80.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$987PKR 274.5K
$2,012BND 2,577
-50.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517PKR 143.8K
$2,276BND 2,915
-77.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Brunei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$184PKR 51.0K
$2,355BND 3,016
-92.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.97
4.05
368.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakistan: June 6, 2026
Last update for Brunei: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $78.0 in Pakistan, $299 in Brunei. Capital cities: $201 in Islamabad vs $739 in Bandar Seri Begawan.
💰National salary averages: $183 in Pakistan, $2,271 in Brunei. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 283% higher in Brunei.
⭐Dining out costs 127% more in Brunei.
⭐Salaries are 1141% higher in Brunei, giving Brunei stronger purchasing power.
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 $836 per month in Brunei and $411 in Pakistan, there's a 103% gap. 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?
Pakistan is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in Brunei beats Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Brunei or Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Brunei, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Brunei or Pakistan?
It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Brunei may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.