Moving to New York from Brunei
What to Expect
Considering a move from Brunei to New York? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Brunei to New York, you would find that New York is 2.6 times more expensive than Brunei overall. A BND96,815 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly $95,273 in New York to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Albany averages 58°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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Brunei and New York.
What does your salary buy?
BND96,815 → $95,273
To maintain the same standard of living in New York
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.3 times more
Groceries
pay 38.0% more
Transportation
pay 39.7% more
Housing
pay 2.3 times more
Childcare
pay 6.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 89.6% more
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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Brunei to New York.
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New York compared to Brunei.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Brunei performs better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Brunei performs better than New York across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New York performs significantly better than Brunei across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Brunei performs better than New York across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bandar Seri Begawan | Albany |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 78°/58°F (26°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bandar Seri Begawan | Albany |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) | 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) |
| Feb | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) | 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) |
| Mar | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) | 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) |
| Apr | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) | 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) | 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) |
| Jun | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) | 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) | 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) |
| Dec | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) | 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°C) |
Data:
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Brunei passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in New York than Brunei?
On average New York is around 27% pricier than Brunei, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to New York?
Budget about $23,818 for 3 months in New York (based on a BND96,815 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from New York?
From major New York cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Brunei and New York are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in New York compared to Brunei?
Brunei performs better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in New York compared to Brunei?
The average high temperature in Albany is 58°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Albany receives around 39.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.
What language do they speak in New York?
The official language in New York is English. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.
