Food and Drink
- Best Dessert Spots
- Tanda Kasih (Local cakes) or Secret Recipe at KB Sentral
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoMamam or HeyDomo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Ambuyat (Available at specialized local stalls)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Pureland Vegetarian Restaurant (Jalan Pretty)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Supasave (International goods) or Soon Lee (Budget)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Buy online via Shopee/Lazada (usually requires Miri mailing address)
- Grocery Delivery
- Supasave Online Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Alcohol is prohibited; social life centers on private clubs (Panaga/KBBC)
- Local Brewery
- None (Dry country)
- Wine Bars
- None (Dry country)
- Street Food Stalls
- Gerai Makan (Night Market) near the KB Waterfront
- Popular International Cuisine
- Excapade Sushi (Seria branch) for high-quality Japanese
Essentials
- City
- Kuala Belait, Belait District, Brunei Darussalam
- Population
- Approximately 30,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 50-100 Mbps via Imagine or DST Infinity fiber
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BND ≈ 0.74 USD (Pegged to SGD). 1 USD ≈ 1.35 BND
- Tap Water
- Generally safe, but most residents boil or use filters (Cuckoo/Coway)
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK standard)
- SIM Card
- DST (Easi) or Progresif. Pre-paid data bundles ~BND 10-20 for 10GB+
- Banking for Expats
- Baiduri Bank and BIBD are most common; cards widely used
- Accommodation
- Sea View Resort or Riviera Hotel; long-term rentals via Facebook groups
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, via Pocket (DST) and QR payments in most shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Limited Airbnb availability; better to use Seaview Hotel for weekly rates (~BND 450/week)
- Budget Accommodation
- Swiss Hotel Apartment (Jalan Kianggeh counterpart) from BND 55/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Town Center near Jalan Pretty for convenience
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Panaga (Seria border) for community vibes and greenery
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- No dedicated coworking; Business Centre at V-Plaza Hotel (Jalan Maulana)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Jalan Pretty) - reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Networking is organic at the Panaga Club or through the Belait District Office events
- Social Events for Expats
- Panaga Club (Membership required) or Friday night gatherings at KB Boat Club
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Dart (Brunei’s local Uber/Grab variant)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- None available; personal car is essential for KB
- Best Beach Nearby
- Silver Jubilee Park (Taman Jubli Perak) Beach
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA)
- Top International Airline
- Singapore Airlines (via BWN airport)
- Highway Access
- Muara-Tutong Highway connects KB to BSB (approx. 1.5 hours)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; KB Bus Terminal is the main hub on Jalan Padang
- Public Transport Passes
- Single fares (~BND 1) paid in cash; no digital passes
- Regional Travel
- Cross-border bus to Miri, Malaysia (approx. 45 mins - 1 hour)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Suri Seri Begawan Hospital (Public) or JPMC (Private outreach)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Aura Fitness (Jalan McKerron) offers periodic classes
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- V-Active Fitness (V-Plaza Hotel) - ~BND 10 walk-in fee
- Laundry Services
- C3 Laundry (Self-service/Wash-dry) near Sentral Shopping Centre
Other Services and Amenities
- Tech Repair Services
- Incomm (KB Branch) for phones; various shops in Sentral Plaza
- Table Tennis Spots
- Mumong Sports Complex
- Language Classes
- JPMC College of Health Sciences or private Malay tutors
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Public Library) KB
- Community Centers
- Panaga Club (For Shell employees and invited members)
- Gaming Lounges
- Level Up Cafe & Gaming (Small local spots)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Strictly prohibited
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post Office KB or DHL (Jalan Jaya Negara)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. BND 2,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = BND 100,000) - Resident/Yellow IC only
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. BND 2,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = BND 80,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. BND 2,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = BND 138,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. BND 1,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = BND 108,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. BND 2,100 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = BND 168,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. BND 1,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = BND 128,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 18.5%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Territorial; No personal income tax
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (No personal income tax)
- VAT
- 0%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- Nominal annual rates levied by Municipal Board
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty applies (ranging from 0.6% to 3% based on value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Brunei offers 0% personal income tax, making it highly attractive if residency is obtained
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Billionth Barrel Monument (Seria, 15 mins away)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC)
- Historical Sites
- KB Waterfront Clock Tower
- Religious Sites
- Masjid Mohammad Jamalul Alam
- Annual Events
- His Majesty’s Birthday celebrations (July) with night markets
- Cultural Districts
- Pekan Kuala Belait (Old town area)
- Theater Venues
- None; small cinema in KB Sentral Shopping Centre
- Local Markets
- Tamu KB (Open-air market) on weekends near Jalan McKerron
- Music Scene
- Limited; mostly acoustic performances at private functions
- Street Art
- Murals at the KB Waterfront area
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at Serikandi Restaurant
- Art Galleries
- Occasional local exhibitions at the Belait District Library
- Historic Buildings
- Old Belait District Administrative Building
- Local Heritage
- Oil industry heritage reflects the city’s identity
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wasai Wong Kadir (Waterfall and trails)
- National Parks Nearby
- Ulu Temburong (needs 3-hour journey/boat)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- KB Waterfront promenade
- Scenic Viewpoints
- River view at the KB Boat Club at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Panaga area and surrounding wetlands
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Beaches near Lumut (permit may be required)