Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Brunei instead of New York, you would:

Economy

make 15.3% less money

New York has a GDP per capita of $91,992 as of 2024, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $77,900 as of 2023.

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be 19.8% more likely to be unemployed

In New York, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2023.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: New York vs. Brunei

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Brunei is 28.8% cheaper than New York
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Size Comparison · See true size
New York is about 21 times bigger than Brunei.
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Brunei: At a glance

Brunei is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 5,265 sq km. The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
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How big is Brunei compared to New York? See an in-depth size comparison.

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