United Arab Emirates vs. Brunei Cost of Living Summary

United Arab Emirates is 49.4% more expensive than Brunei overall.

Restaurants
pay 27.0% more in United Arab Emirates
Groceries
pay 32.0% less in United Arab Emirates
Transportation
pay 3.2 times more in United Arab Emirates
Housing
pay 98.3% more in United Arab Emirates
Childcare
pay 38.3% more in United Arab Emirates
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.7% more in United Arab Emirates
Clothing
pay 22.1% less in United Arab Emirates

The cost of transportation, housing, entertainment and sports, childcare, and restaurants in United Arab Emirates are more expensive than in Brunei. Expenses including groceries and clothing are lower in United Arab Emirates. Notably, transportation and housing are significantly more expensive in United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates vs. Brunei Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United Arab Emirates instead of Brunei, you would:

pay 27.0% more for restaurants

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $5.86
BND7.55
$8.43
AED30.95
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$6.92
BND8.91
$8.55
AED31.39
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.92
BND1.19
$1.07
AED3.94

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pay 32.0% less for groceries

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Bread
1 loaf
$2.10
BND2.70
$1.46
AED5.38
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.08
BND9.11
$4.94
AED18.13
Milk (1 gallon) $7.05
BND9.08
$6.75
AED24.79

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pay 3.2 times more for transportation

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Gasoline (1 gallon) $1.47
BND1.90
$3.40
AED12.50
Monthly public transit pass $0.78
BND1.01
$49.01
AED180.00
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $37,115.17
BND47,803.75
$33,745.09
AED124K

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pay 98.3% more for housing

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$65.11
BND83.86
$87.46
AED321.23
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $731.42
BND942.05
$1,419.61
AED5,214.23
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $627.34
BND808.00
$1,087.32
AED3,993.73

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pay 38.3% more for childcare

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $216.82
BND279.26
$481.84
AED1,769.81
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $9,524.22
BND12,267.04
$8,191.72
AED30,088.20

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pay 69.7% more for entertainment and sports

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.95
BND2.52
$10.81
AED39.72
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.22
BND5.43
$4.99
AED18.34
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$11.72
BND15.09
$6.20
AED22.77

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pay 22.1% less for clothing

 
Brunei
United Arab Emirates
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$76.18
BND98.12
$53.49
AED196.45
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$97.53
BND125.62
$52.36
AED192.32
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$128.15
BND165.05
$95.31
AED350.08

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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