Cost of Living Comparison Between Seria and Kuala Belait Cost of Living Comparison Between Seria and Kuala Belait

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $546 per month in Seria vs $1,642 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $893 per month in Seria vs $2,431 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,241 per month in Seria vs $3,220 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Seria is about 67% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Seria sits 59% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 BND 3.97

$3.62 BND 4.63

-14.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.55 BND 35.26

$46.89 BND 60.0

-41.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 BND 7.15

$7.69 BND 9.84

-27.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 BND 2.05

$1.99 BND 2.55

-19.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 BND 3.07

$2.30 BND 2.95

4.35%

Cappuccino

$3.85 BND 4.93

$4.51 BND 5.77

-14.63%

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

$0.94 BND 1.20

$0.97 BND 1.23

-3.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 BND 0.77

$0.56 BND 0.72

7.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BND 2.41

$2.45 BND 3.14

-23.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 BND 1.82

$2.49 BND 3.19

-42.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 BND 1.61

$2.29 BND 2.93

-44.98%

Eggs

$1.37 BND 1.76

$2.60 BND 3.33

-47.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 BND 8.17

$18.55 BND 23.73

-65.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 BND 5.54

$9.84 BND 12.59

-56.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.45 BND 14.65

$25.05 BND 32.05

-54.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 BND 3.98

$4.68 BND 5.99

-33.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 BND 3.24

$2.63 BND 3.37

-3.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 BND 3.88

$3.10 BND 3.97

-2.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 BND 3.53

$2.80 BND 3.58

-1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.66 BND 2.12

$1.64 BND 2.10

1.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 BND 2.74

$2.21 BND 2.83

-3.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.37 BND 4.31

$5.49 BND 7.03

-38.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 BND 0.96

$0.81 BND 1.04

-7.41%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.25 BND 4.15

$5.91 BND 7.57

-45.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 BND 1.43

$1.55 BND 1.98

-27.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.34 BND 19.64

$7.62 BND 9.75

101.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 BND 6.16

$4.56 BND 5.83

5.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.77 BND 15.06

$11.88 BND 15.21

-0.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.32 BND 0.41

$0.35 BND 0.45

-8.57%

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

$38.9K BND 49.8K

$23.0K BND 29.4K

69.29%

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

$36.8K BND 47.1K

$26.9K BND 34.4K

37.13%

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

$59.6 BND 76.3

$39.27 BND 50.3

51.74%

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

$15.44 BND 19.75

$21.38 BND 27.36

-27.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 BND 82.0

-0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.29 BND 34.92

$96.8 BND 124

-71.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BND 27.48

Cinema Ticket

$5.61 BND 7.17

$5.33 BND 6.83

5.25%

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

$156 BND 199

$157 BND 201

-0.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,317 BND 11.9K

$9,152 BND 11.7K

1.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.93 BND 39.58

$98.8 BND 126

-68.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.30 BND 34.93

$99.5 BND 127

-72.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 BND 64.7

$125 BND 160

-59.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.60 BND 60.9

$64.8 BND 82.9

-26.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 BND 930

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 BND 980

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,494

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 BND 1,493

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$697 BND 892

$3,392 BND 4,341

-79.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

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

Last update for Seria: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 386% 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 $28.00 in Seria versus $47.00 in Kuala Belait. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $356 – making Seria the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $546 in Seria, $1,642 in Kuala Belait – roughly 201% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $819 per month in Seria and $2,463 in Kuala Belait. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $546 in Seria and $1,642 in Kuala Belait. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Seria and $157 in Kuala Belait. 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 $546, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. In Seria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait 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, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.