Moving to Macedonia from Brunei

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Brunei to Macedonia, you would find that Macedonia is 0.1% cheaper than Brunei overall. A BND96,811 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly MKD2,547,020 in Macedonia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Macedonian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Skopje averages 65°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 Macedonia.

What does your salary buy?

BND96,811 MKD2,547,020

To maintain the same standard of living in Macedonia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 56.0% more

Groceries

pay 45.1% less

Transportation

pay 74.1% more

Housing

pay 16.1% less

Childcare

pay 17.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 34.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BND = 41.74 MKD (July 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 Macedonia compared to Brunei.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BN
0.5
MK
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BN
3.6
MK
5.7

Brunei performs better than Macedonia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BN
$1,896
MK
$1,808
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BN
19.1
MK
29.6

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BN
20.0
MK
62.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BN
20.2t
MK
4.0t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BN
20.1
MK
24.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BN
3.5%
MK
38.0%

Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though Macedonia leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BN
5.3%
MK
13.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BN
$77,900
MK
$23,400

Brunei performs better than Macedonia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BN
78.4 yrs
MK
76.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BN
10.5
MK
7.3

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

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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Skopje Rain: 19.8 in/yr (504 mm)
65° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bandar Seri Begawan Skopje
Jan–Mar 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 47°/30°F (9°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) 74°/49°F (23°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) 84°/57°F (29°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) 54°/35°F (12°/2°C)
View all months
Month Bandar Seri Begawan Skopje
Jan 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) 39°/26°F (4.0°/-3.6°C)
Feb 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) 47°/30°F (8.4°/-1.3°C)
Mar 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) 56°/35°F (13.6°/1.9°C)
Apr 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) 65°/42°F (18.6°/5.4°C)
May 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) 75°/50°F (23.9°/10.0°C)
Jun 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) 81°/55°F (27.4°/13.0°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) 86°/59°F (29.8°/14.8°C)
Aug 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) 86°/58°F (30.0°/14.6°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) 79°/53°F (26.1°/11.4°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) 67°/43°F (19.5°/6.3°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) 52°/35°F (11.2°/1.4°C)
Dec 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) 42°/28°F (5.3°/-2.2°C)

Data: Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department, HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia HydroMeteorological Service of Republic of North Macedonia

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Macedonia

Visa Free
Brunei passport holders can enter Macedonia without a visa.
Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting Brunei

Visa Required
Macedonia 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 Macedonia than Brunei?

On average Macedonia is about 37% less expensive than Brunei, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Macedonia?

Budget about MKD636,755 for 3 months in Macedonia (based on a BND96,811 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Macedonia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Macedonia: 24.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Macedonia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Macedonia safe for expats?

Brunei performs better than Macedonia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macedonia is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.

How is healthcare in Macedonia compared to Brunei?

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Macedonia, compared to 19.1 in Brunei. Macedonia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Skopje is 65°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Skopje receives around 19.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.

What language do they speak in Macedonia?

The official language in Macedonia is Macedonian. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.

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At a Glance

BN MK
Population 478,054 2,130,936
Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) Macedonian Denar (MKD)
Languages Malay Macedonian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +673 +389
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112