Moving to Papua New Guinea from Brunei

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Brunei to Papua New Guinea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Brunei to Papua New Guinea, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Brunei to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

per 100,000 people per year

BN
0.5
PG
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BN
3.6
PG
14.9

Brunei performs better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BN
$1,896
PG
$133
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

BN
18.9
PG
0.6

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BN
20.0
PG
38.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BN
20.2t
PG
0.5t

Brunei generally does better on environment, though Papua New Guinea 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
PG
0.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BN
3.5%
PG
0.1%

Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BN
5.3%
PG
2.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BN
$32,235
PG
$3,020

Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though Papua New Guinea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BN
75.5 yrs
PG
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BN
8.6
PG
31.3

Brunei performs better than Papua New Guinea across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2010–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei (2016), Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea (2016), The World Factbook (2021). 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

Port Moresby Rain: 35.4 in/yr (899 mm)
88° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bandar Seri Begawan Port Moresby
Jan–Mar 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 89°/74°F (32°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) 90°/74°F (32°/24°C)
View all months
Month Bandar Seri Begawan Port Moresby
Jan 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C)
Feb 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C)
Mar 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C)
Apr 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
May 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C)
Jun 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C)
Jul 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C)
Sep 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C)
Nov 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C)
Dec 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C)

Data: Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department, Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

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

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Brunei

Visa Required
Papua New Guinea 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

Can I work remotely from Papua New Guinea?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Papua New Guinea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Papua New Guinea safe for expats?

Brunei performs better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Papua New Guinea is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.

How is healthcare in Papua New Guinea compared to Brunei?

Papua New Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 0.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Papua New Guinea, compared to 18.9 in Brunei. Papua New Guinea scores 30 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).

What's the weather like in Papua New Guinea compared to Brunei?

The average high temperature in Port Moresby is 88°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Port Moresby receives around 35.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.

What language do they speak in Papua New Guinea?

The official languages in Papua New Guinea are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.

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At a Glance

BN PG
Population 466,330 10,762,817
Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
Languages Malay English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +673 +675
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number — 000