Moving to Macau from Brunei
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Brunei to Macau — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Brunei to Macau, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Macao averages 77°F vs 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Macau
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
How Brunei and Macau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Brunei performs better than Macau across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Macau performs significantly better than Brunei across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though Macau leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Macau generally does better on employment & economy, though Brunei leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Macau generally does better on family life, though Brunei leads in literacy rate.
Data: Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bandar Seri Begawan | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bandar Seri Begawan | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) |
| Feb | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) |
| Mar | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) |
| Dec | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) |
Data:
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department,
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei and Macau. To live, work, or study long-term in Macau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Macau's immigration authority.
Brunei passport holder visiting Macau
Visa Free
Macau passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Macau?
With 30.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Macau can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Brunei and Macau.
Is Macau safe for expats?
Brunei performs better than Macau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.
What's the weather like in Macau compared to Brunei?
The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.
What language do they speak in Macau?
The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.
