Moving to Kazakhstan from Brunei

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Brunei to Kazakhstan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Brunei to Kazakhstan, you would find that Kazakhstan is 21.5% cheaper than Brunei overall. A BND96,000 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly KZT26,700,000 in Kazakhstan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Kazakh and Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Astana averages 46°F vs 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Brunei and Kazakhstan.

What does your salary buy?

BND96,000 → KZT26,700,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Kazakhstan

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 31.7% more

Groceries

pay 44.3% less

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 43.4% less

Childcare

pay 18.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BND = 354.87 KZT (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Kazakhstan compared to Brunei.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BN
0.5
KZ
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BN
3.6
KZ
12.2

Brunei performs better than Kazakhstan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BN
$1,896
KZ
$1,460
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BN
18.9
KZ
37.5

Kazakhstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BN
20.0
KZ
68.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BN
20.2t
KZ
12.6t

Brunei generally does better on environment, though Kazakhstan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BN
21.2
KZ
15.3
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BN
3.5%
KZ
34.6%

Brunei performs better than Kazakhstan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BN
5.3%
KZ
4.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BN
$32,235
KZ
$14,692

Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though Kazakhstan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BN
75.5 yrs
KZ
74.5 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BN
8.6
KZ
7.4

Kazakhstan generally does better on family life, though Brunei leads in life expectancy.

Sources: World Bank (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2013–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2018–2021), Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei (2016), Tax Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bandar Seri Begawan Rain: 114.7 in/yr (2913 mm)
89° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Astana Rain: 12.5 in/yr (318 mm)
46° / 25°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bandar Seri Begawan Astana
Jan–Mar 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 15°/-4°F (-10°/-20°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) 65°/41°F (18°/5°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) 30°/13°F (-1°/-11°C)
View all months
Month Bandar Seri Begawan Astana
Jan 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) 9°/-8°F (-12.6°/-22.0°C)
Feb 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) 12°/-7°F (-11.3°/-21.8°C)
Mar 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) 23°/4°F (-5.0°/-15.6°C)
Apr 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.4°C)
May 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) 67°/42°F (19.6°/5.8°C)
Jun 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) 78°/52°F (25.3°/11.2°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) 81°/56°F (27.0°/13.4°C)
Aug 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) 65°/41°F (18.6°/5.1°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) 47°/28°F (8.5°/-2.1°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.2°C)
Dec 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) 15°/-2°F (-9.7°/-18.9°C)

Data: Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei and Kazakhstan. To live, work, or study long-term in Kazakhstan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kazakhstan's immigration authority.

Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Kazakhstan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Brunei passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan passport

Kazakhstan passport holder visiting Brunei

Visa Required
Kazakhstan passport holders need a visa to enter Brunei.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Kazakhstan than Brunei?

On average Kazakhstan is about 22% less expensive than Brunei, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kazakhstan?

Budget about KZT6,675,000 for 3 months in Kazakhstan (based on a BND96,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Kazakhstan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Kazakhstan: 15.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kazakhstan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Kazakhstan safe for expats?

Brunei performs better than Kazakhstan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Kazakhstan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.

How is healthcare in Kazakhstan compared to Brunei?

Kazakhstan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in suicide rate. There are 37.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Kazakhstan, compared to 18.9 in Brunei. Kazakhstan scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).

What's the weather like in Kazakhstan compared to Brunei?

The average high temperature in Astana is 46°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Astana receives around 12.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.

What language do they speak in Kazakhstan?

The official languages in Kazakhstan are Kazakh and Russian. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.

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At a Glance

BN KZ
Population 466,330 20,843,754
Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Languages Malay Kazakh, Russian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +673 +7
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number — 112