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 $565 per month in Seria vs $1,657 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $898 per month in Seria vs $2,452 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,230 per month in Seria vs $3,247 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Seria is about 66% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Seria sits 58% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 BND 4.06

$3.67 BND 4.74

-14.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.15 BND 35.07

$46.09 BND 59.5

-41.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.38 BND 6.95

$7.89 BND 10.19

-31.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 BND 2.04

$1.92 BND 2.48

-17.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.98

$2.32 BND 3.00

-0.86%

Cappuccino

$3.83 BND 4.95

$4.62 BND 5.97

-17.10%

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

$0.92 BND 1.19

$0.97 BND 1.25

-5.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 BND 0.80

$0.61 BND 0.79

1.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 BND 2.38

$2.53 BND 3.27

-27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 BND 1.91

$2.53 BND 3.27

-41.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 BND 1.68

$2.28 BND 2.95

-42.98%

Eggs

$1.43 BND 1.85

$2.58 BND 3.33

-44.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 BND 7.82

$19.15 BND 24.74

-68.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 BND 5.67

$9.77 BND 12.62

-55.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.36 BND 14.67

$24.73 BND 31.94

-54.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 BND 4.05

$4.50 BND 5.82

-30.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 BND 3.42

$2.53 BND 3.27

4.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.15 BND 4.06

$3.19 BND 4.12

-1.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 BND 3.58

$2.78 BND 3.59

-0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 BND 2.10

$1.65 BND 2.13

-1.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 BND 2.89

$2.23 BND 2.88

0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.40 BND 4.39

$5.55 BND 7.17

-38.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BND 0.99

$0.76 BND 0.98

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 BND 4.21

$5.98 BND 7.73

-45.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 BND 1.38

$1.59 BND 2.06

-32.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.43 BND 19.93

$8.01 BND 10.34

92.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 BND 6.18

$4.72 BND 6.10

1.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.57 BND 14.94

$11.62 BND 15.01

-0.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.30 BND 0.39

$0.36 BND 0.46

-16.67%

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

$39.5K BND 51.1K

$22.9K BND 29.6K

72.50%

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

$36.5K BND 47.1K

$27.1K BND 35.0K

34.67%

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

$59.5 BND 76.9

$38.63 BND 49.89

54.03%

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

$15.34 BND 19.82

$21.89 BND 28.27

-29.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 BND 85.7

$64.4 BND 83.2

3.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.44 BND 35.44

$97.6 BND 126

-71.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.79 BND 28.14

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 BND 7.12

$5.57 BND 7.20

-1.08%

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

$159 BND 205

$155 BND 201

2.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,566 BND 12.4K

$9,500 BND 12.3K

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.67 BND 39.61

$98.4 BND 127

-68.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.89 BND 34.73

$103 BND 133

-73.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 BND 64.8

$121 BND 157

-58.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.00 BND 59.4

$63.5 BND 82.1

-27.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$742 BND 958

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 BND 1,026

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 BND 1,521

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,508

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$682 BND 881

$3,320 BND 4,288

-79.46%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 387% 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 $27.00 in Seria versus $46.00 in Kuala Belait. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 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: $565 in Seria, $1,657 in Kuala Belait – roughly 193% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $848 per month in Seria and $2,486 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 $565 in Seria and $1,657 in Kuala Belait. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Seria and $155 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 $565, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. 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.