🙂A single person spends $581 per month in Seria vs $1,933 in Kuala Belait, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $902 per month in Seria vs $2,865 in Kuala Belait, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,224 per month in Seria vs $3,797 in Kuala Belait, rent included.
🙂Seria is about 70% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Seria sits 58% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 41% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.18BND 4.04
$7.65BND 9.72
-58.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$47.28BND 60.1
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42BND 6.89
$7.91BND 10.05
-31.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54BND 1.95
$2.98BND 3.78
-48.32%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30BND 2.93
$2.41BND 3.07
-4.56%
Cappuccino
$3.90BND 4.95
$4.64BND 5.90
-15.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53BND 1.94
$1.28BND 1.63
19.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77BND 0.98
$0.92BND 1.17
-16.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.23BND 4.10
$2.54BND 3.22
27.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43BND 1.82
$2.44BND 3.11
-41.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.05BND 5.14
$2.23BND 2.84
81.61%
Eggs
$1.37BND 1.74
$2.71BND 3.44
-49.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.10BND 7.75
$18.98BND 24.13
-67.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80BND 6.10
$9.60BND 12.20
-50.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.66BND 24.99
$25.17BND 31.99
-21.89%
Apples(1kg)
$4.84BND 6.15
$4.65BND 5.91
4.09%
Banana(1kg)
$3.82BND 4.86
$6.53BND 8.29
-41.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82BND 4.85
$5.06BND 6.44
-24.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23BND 4.11
$7.04BND 8.94
-54.12%
Potato(1kg)
$3.11BND 3.95
$3.29BND 4.18
-5.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.29BND 2.91
$2.91BND 3.70
-21.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.51BND 7.01
$5.47BND 6.96
0.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77BND 0.98
$1.27BND 1.61
-39.37%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$11.57BND 14.71
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.94BND 7.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08BND 1.37
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.78BND 9.89
-
🚌 Getting Around
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33BND 0.41
$0.36BND 0.45
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$31.3KBND 39.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.0KBND 34.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$39.36BND 50.0
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.68BND 19.93
$21.33BND 27.11
-26.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1BND 86.5
$176BND 223
-61.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.02BND 34.34
$100BND 127
-73.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92BND 35.49
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.63BND 7.15
$5.39BND 6.86
4.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$238BND 302
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.1KBND 24.3K
$9,270BND 11.8K
106.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.59BND 40.16
$98.8BND 126
-68.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.06BND 34.40
$102BND 129
-73.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.2BND 63.9
$156BND 199
-67.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.20BND 60.0
$176BND 224
-73.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$754BND 959
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$776BND 986
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,195BND 1,519
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,162BND 1,477
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seria
Kuala Belait
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$710BND 902
$3,423BND 4,350
-79.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seria: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kuala Belait: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 382% higher in Kuala Belait, 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 Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Seria and in Kuala Belait compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $581 in Seria, $1,933 in Kuala Belait – roughly 233% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Seria compared to Kuala Belait?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Seria and $2,900 in Kuala Belait. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Seria or Kuala Belait?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $581 in Seria and $1,933 in Kuala Belait. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Kuala Belait, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Seria, where all-in costs run around $581, than in Kuala Belait at $1,933. In Seria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Seria or Kuala Belait?
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.
Is Seria or Kuala Belait safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Seria and Kuala Belait?
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.