Is Brunei expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Brunei is moderately priced: hotels cost more than in neighbouring Malaysia, but food is very cheap and most sights are free. A budget traveller can manage on about B$57 per person a day sharing a room, mid-range about B$155 and comfort about B$410. The main extra costs are tours, especially to Ulu Temburong National Park.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | B$30 | B$65 | B$180 |
| Food & drink | B$12 | B$30 | B$70 |
| Sights & tickets | B$10 | B$45 | B$120 |
| Local transport | B$5 | B$15 | B$40 |
| Per person, per day | B$57 | B$155 | B$410 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Brunei day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Nasi katok (rice, fried chicken, sambal) | B$1-2 |
| Satay at Gadong Night Market | a few sticks for B$1 |
| Water taxi hop to Kampong Ayer | about B$1-2 |
| One-hour water taxi tour | roughly B$20-30 (agree first) |
| Public bus fare | B$1 |
| Dart ride across the capital | about B$5-10 |
| Proboscis monkey boat trip | about B$30-50 per person |
| Ulu Temburong day tour with lunch and park fee | about B$120-200 per person |
| Mid-range double in the centre | B$90-160 a night |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation and organised tours take most of the budget. Simple hotels and the youth hostel in Bandar Seri Begawan cost B$40-80 a night, mid-range B$90-160, and the Empire resort at Jerudong B$250-600. Food is among the cheapest in Southeast Asia, and the mosques, Royal Regalia Museum and Kampong Ayer gallery are free. Temburong is the one big expense, as almost everyone goes with a tour.
When it is cheaper
Prices are fairly stable all year. Hotels can fill and rise slightly around Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the end of Ramadan and the Sultan's birthday celebrations on 15 July.
How to spend less
- Eat at night markets and food stalls: nasi katok and satay cost B$1-2.
- Visit the free sights: both great mosques, the Royal Regalia Museum and the Kampong Ayer gallery.
- Use the B$1 purple buses in the daytime and Dart only when buses stop around 18:00.
- Agree the price of a water taxi tour before boarding; short crossings are only B$1-2.
- Combine the proboscis monkey trip with the view of the Istana Nurul Iman from the river.
- Book Temburong with a group tour rather than a private trip to share the boat and guide costs.
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Common questions
Is Brunei expensive to visit?
Not especially. Rooms cost more than in Malaysia, but street food costs B$1-2 a dish and most sights are free. Budget about B$57 per person per day.
What currency is used in Brunei?
The Brunei dollar, which is pegged to and used at par with the Singapore dollar.
How much is a tour to Ulu Temburong?
About B$120-200 per person, usually including transport, the longboat, lunch and the park fee.