Moving to Oman from Brunei

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Brunei to Oman, you would find that Oman is 2.2% more expensive than Brunei overall. A BND96,844 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly OMR18,925 in Oman to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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 Oman.

What does your salary buy?

BND96,844 OMR18,925

To maintain the same standard of living in Oman

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 0.2% more

Groceries

pay 36.9% less

Transportation

pay 7.2% less

Housing

pay 5.8% less

Childcare

pay 1.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.0 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BND = 0.2979 OMR (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.

Get free moving quotes to Oman

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

The numbers behind daily life in Oman compared to Brunei.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BN
0.5
OM
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BN
3.6
OM
11.0

Brunei generally does better on safety, though Oman leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BN
$1,896
OM
$1,444
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BN
19.1
OM
20.6

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Oman 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
OM
104.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BN
20.2t
OM
18.7t

Brunei generally does better on environment, though Oman 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
OM
10.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BN
3.5%
OM
116.7%

Brunei performs better than Oman across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BN
5.3%
OM
1.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BN
$77,900
OM
$40,000

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BN
78.4 yrs
OM
76.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BN
10.5
OM
14.4

Brunei generally does better on family life, though Oman leads in education spending.

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

Muscat Rain: 3.5 in/yr (90 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bandar Seri Begawan Muscat
Jan–Mar 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 81°/65°F (27°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) 100°/82°F (38°/28°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) 97°/83°F (36°/28°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) 87°/70°F (31°/21°C)
View all months
Month Bandar Seri Begawan Muscat
Jan 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) 77°/62°F (25.1°/16.7°C)
Feb 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) 80°/64°F (26.4°/17.8°C)
Mar 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.3°C)
Apr 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) 94°/76°F (34.7°/24.2°C)
May 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) 103°/84°F (39.6°/28.7°C)
Jun 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) 104°/87°F (40.0°/30.3°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) 100°/86°F (38.0°/30.1°C)
Aug 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) 96°/83°F (35.6°/28.2°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) 96°/80°F (35.6°/26.8°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) 94°/76°F (34.6°/24.2°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) 87°/69°F (30.3°/20.8°C)
Dec 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) 80°/65°F (26.8°/18.3°C)

Data: Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department, Directorate General of Meteorology - Civil Aviation Authority Directorate General of Meteorology - Civil Aviation Authority

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Oman

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

Oman passport holder visiting Brunei

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

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 Oman than Brunei?

On average Oman is about 34% less expensive than Brunei, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Oman?

Budget about OMR4,731 for 3 months in Oman (based on a BND96,844 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Oman?

Connectivity is usually fine (Oman: 10.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Oman offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Oman safe for expats?

Brunei generally does better on safety, though Oman leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Oman is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.

How is healthcare in Oman compared to Brunei?

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Oman leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 20.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Oman, compared to 19.1 in Brunei. Oman scores 70 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Muscat is 91°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Muscat receives around 3.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.

What language do they speak in Oman?

The official language in Oman is Arabic. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.

Share this

At a Glance

BN OM
Population 478,054 3,764,348
Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) Omani Rial (OMR)
Languages Malay Arabic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +673 +968
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 9999