Is Brunei expensive? People assume so. It's an oil-rich sultanate with gold domes and a palace of 1,788 rooms, so many visitors expect Singapore prices or worse.
The truth is kinder to your wallet. Rooms cost more than in Malaysia next door, but street food is cheap, the mosques are free, and you'll rarely pay more than a few dollars to get around.
As of October 2026, a careful budget traveller can manage on about $40 to $55 a day. A mid-range trip runs about $85 to $145 a day, and luxury starts around $280.
Here's where the money goes, with prices in Brunei dollars (BND) and US dollars.
The Brunei dollar and how to pay
The Brunei dollar is tied to the Singapore dollar at exactly one to one, under an agreement that dates back to 1967. You can spend Singapore notes anywhere in Brunei, and shops may give change in either.
As of October 2026, one US dollar buys about BND 1.29. We've used that rate for the US figures below.
The reverse isn't true.
Brunei notes are hard to spend in Singapore, so use them up before you leave.
Cards work in hotels, malls and supermarkets. Carry cash for night markets, water taxis and small cafés.
What's free and what isn't
The big sights cost little. Both great mosques, the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, are free to visit outside prayer times.
The Royal Regalia Museum is no longer free for visitors, though. Brunei Tourism lists a BND 5 ticket ($3.90) for non-resident adults, and the museum is shut on Fridays.
Walking the waterfront, watching the palace gates and browsing the markets costs nothing at all.
The mosques ask for modest dress rather than money. If your clothes don't cover your arms and legs, staff lend robes for free, so you won't need to buy anything special. Your biggest sightseeing bill will be a rainforest tour.
Transport costs
Petrol is subsidised, at about BND 0.53 a litre, so locals drive everywhere. That leaves public transport thin. The water taxis to Kampong Ayer are the exception: they're quick, frequent and cheap.
Buses charge a flat BND 1, but they're slow and run only from about 6 am to 8 pm. Street taxis barely exist. Most visitors use Dart, Brunei's ride-hailing app.
| Ride | Typical cost (BND) | About (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| City bus, any route | 1 | $0.80 |
| Water taxi across the river | 1–2 | $0.80–$1.60 |
| Private water taxi, one hour | 20–30 | $15–$23 |
| Dart, center to Jame' Asr Mosque | 5–7 | $3.90–$5.40 |
| Dart, airport to center | 9–12 | $7–$9 |
| Dart, center to Jerudong | 16–22 | $12–$17 |
These are typical fares as of October 2026. Dart shows the exact price before you book, so you'll never be surprised.
Food prices in Brunei
Eating is where Brunei gets cheap. At the Gadong Night Market and street stalls, you can fill up for a few dollars. Supermarket snacks and bottled water cost about the same as in Malaysia, so stock up before long days out.
The local favourite is nasi katok: a small pack of rice, a piece of fried chicken and a dab of sambal. It used to cost exactly BND 1, and most stalls still charge BND 1 to 2.
- Nasi katok: BND 1–2 ($0.80–$1.60)
- Chicken satay, five sticks: about BND 2 ($1.60)
- Roti canai with curry: BND 1.20–1.80 ($0.90–$1.40)
- Fresh fruit juice: BND 1.50–2.50 ($1.20–$1.90)
- Meal in an air-conditioned café: BND 8–16 ($6–$12)
- Ambuyat for two, with side dishes: BND 20–32 ($15–$25)
Don't budget for drinks at the bar. Brunei doesn't sell alcohol anywhere, and the UK Foreign Office notes that tobacco isn't sold either.
Brunei hotel prices
Accommodation is the one cost that bites. There are few hostels, so even budget travellers usually pay for a private room. Many mid-range hotels include breakfast, which helps.
| Style | Example | Per night (BND) | About (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Family guesthouse | 35–55 | $27–$43 |
| Mid-range | Business hotel in town | 65–110 | $50–$85 |
| Upscale | Four-star city hotel | 130–180 | $100–$140 |
| Luxury | The Empire Brunei | 300 and up | $230 and up |
Prices are typical as of October 2026 and rise around holidays. Book ahead for Hari Raya, when Bruneians travel and visitors come for the palace open house.
Is Brunei expensive compared with its neighbours?
Set against Singapore, Brunei is the cheaper stop. Hotels cost less, Dart rides are a fraction of a Singapore taxi, and you won't pay to enter the big mosques. Singapore costs more on almost every line of a budget, from hotels to taxis (full Singapore costs).
Against Malaysian Borneo, it's the other way round. A room in Kota Kinabalu or Miri usually costs less, and there are far more hostels.
Food is the great leveller. A plate of rice and chicken costs about the same on both sides of the border.
Visa and entry costs
For many travellers, entry is free. British passport holders, for example, can stay for up to 90 days without a visa, according to the UK Foreign Office's entry page.
Everyone must fill in an e-arrival declaration before the flight, and your passport needs six months of validity left. Other nationalities get shorter stays or need a visa, so check yours on our visa checker before you book.
A Brunei travel budget, day by day
Here's what a day costs per person, with a shared double room.
Budget, about $40 to $55 (BND 52 to 71): a guesthouse room, street food for every meal, buses and water taxis, and free sights.
Mid-range, about $85 to $145 (BND 110 to 187): a business hotel with breakfast, café lunches and a seafood dinner, a few Dart rides and a private boat tour of the water village.
Luxury, from about $280 (BND 360): a sea-view room at The Empire, a private driver and a guided day in Ulu Temburong National Park.
A rainforest day trip is the big extra. As of October 2026, most tours cost about BND 140 to 180 a person, with transport, the longboat and lunch included.
Use our budget calculator to plan your own numbers. For what to see, read our Brunei itinerary and Bandar Seri Begawan guide.
Ways to save money in Brunei
A few habits cut your costs a lot.
- Eat where locals eat. Night markets and coffee shops (kedai kopi) cost a fraction of hotel restaurants.
- Stay in Gadong or Kiulap. You'll pay less than on the waterfront, and the best street food is on your doorstep.
- Share Dart rides. A car costs the same for one person or four, so split fares with friends.
- Plan around Friday. Shops and restaurants close for midday prayers, and the Royal Regalia Museum shuts all day, so use Friday for the rainforest.
- Skip the hotel breakfast. A breakfast of nasi katok and coffee from a stall costs a couple of dollars.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brunei expensive compared with Malaysia?
Yes, a little. Rooms cost more than in Sabah or Sarawak, but street food is similar, and many sights are free.
Can you bring alcohol into Brunei?
Yes, if you're not Muslim and you're at least 17, but only a small amount for personal use. Customs must see it on arrival.
Do you tip in Brunei?
No, tipping isn't expected. Big hotels add a 10 percent service charge, and small change at a café is a kind extra, not a duty.
