Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 23.9% more likely to be obese

In New York, 29.9% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Brunei, that number is 37.0% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 20.0% more likely to be unemployed

In New York, 4.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 65.0% less money

New York has a GDP per capita of $91,992 as of 2024, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Sources: World Bank (2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: New York vs. Brunei

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Brunei is 57.2% 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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Moving from New York to Brunei · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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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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