Cost of Living Comparison Between Seria and Bandar Seri Begawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Seria and Bandar Seri Begawan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Seria vs $1,168 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $902 per month in Seria vs $1,692 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,224 per month in Seria vs $2,216 in Bandar Seri Begawan, rent included.

Seria is about 50% cheaper than Bandar Seri Begawan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Seria and Bandar Seri Begawan are more affordable than the global median – Seria 58% lower, Bandar Seri Begawan 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.18 BND 4.04

$3.88 BND 4.93

-18.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.86 BND 35.40

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 BND 6.89

$6.14 BND 7.81

-11.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 BND 1.95

$2.02 BND 2.57

-23.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.93

$2.43 BND 3.09

-5.35%

Cappuccino

$3.90 BND 4.95

$3.84 BND 4.88

1.56%

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

$1.53 BND 1.94

$0.96 BND 1.22

59.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 BND 0.98

$0.50 BND 0.64

54.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.23 BND 4.10

$1.88 BND 2.39

71.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 BND 1.82

$1.76 BND 2.24

-18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.05 BND 5.14

$1.20 BND 1.53

237.50%

Eggs

$1.37 BND 1.74

$2.06 BND 2.62

-33.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 BND 7.75

$9.33 BND 11.86

-34.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 BND 6.10

$4.64 BND 5.89

3.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 BND 24.99

$10.90 BND 13.86

80.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 BND 6.15

$3.08 BND 3.92

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$3.82 BND 4.86

$2.23 BND 2.83

71.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 BND 4.85

$2.89 BND 3.68

32.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 BND 4.11

$2.59 BND 3.30

24.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 BND 3.95

$1.68 BND 2.13

85.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 BND 2.91

$2.05 BND 2.60

11.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.51 BND 7.01

$3.21 BND 4.09

71.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BND 0.98

$0.82 BND 1.04

-6.10%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$23.31 BND 29.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.43 BND 4.37

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BND 1.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.65 BND 19.89

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BND 0.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$0.75 BND 0.95

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 BND 4.85

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.38 BND 4.29

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 BND 14.73

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 BND 0.41

$0.38 BND 0.49

-13.16%

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

$43.6K BND 55.5K

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

$37.0K BND 47.0K

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

$61.7 BND 78.4

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

$15.68 BND 19.93

$20.53 BND 26.10

-23.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.1 BND 86.5

$66.2 BND 84.2

2.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.02 BND 34.34

$40.04 BND 50.9

-32.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 BND 9.16

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 BND 7.15

$5.65 BND 7.18

-0.35%

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

$238 BND 302

$218 BND 277

8.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.1K BND 24.3K

$9,765 BND 12.4K

95.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.59 BND 40.16

$76.8 BND 97.6

-58.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.06 BND 34.40

$94.0 BND 120

-71.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 BND 63.9

$108 BND 137

-53.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.20 BND 60.0

$71.5 BND 90.9

-34.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 BND 904

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 BND 599

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 BND 1,438

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 BND 876

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,074 BND 3,907

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,364 BND 3,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 BND 902

$1,807 BND 2,296

-60.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.88

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

Last update for Seria: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 155% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Seria vs Bandar Seri Begawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bandar Seri Begawan is pricier by about 101%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Seria and $1,753 in Bandar Seri Begawan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Interestingly, groceries are about 34% cheaper in Bandar Seri Begawan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Seria and $218 in Bandar Seri Begawan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Seria, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Bandar Seri Begawan at $1,168. In Seria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bandar Seri Begawan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Seria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Seria. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bandar Seri Begawan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.