Moving to Puerto Rico from Brunei

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Brunei to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 64.7% more expensive than Brunei overall. A BND96,000 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly $123,000 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Brunei and Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

BND96,000 → $123,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.1 times more

Groceries

pay 36.0% more

Transportation

pay 3.5 times more

Housing

pay 62.8% more

Childcare

pay 91.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 10.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BND = 0.7809 USD (October 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 Puerto Rico compared to Brunei.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

BN
0.5
PR
14.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BN
3.6
PR
12.5

Brunei performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate World Health Organization, 2024

share of adults with obesity

BN
37.0%
PR
42.4%
Suicide rate World Bank, 2021

per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support

BN
3.0
PR
5.4

Brunei performs better than Puerto Rico across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BN
20.2t
PR
4.8t

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Brunei across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BN
21.2
PR
28.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BN
3.5%
PR
19.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

BN
5.3%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

BN
$32,235
PR
$40,620

Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

BN
75.5 yrs
PR
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BN
8.6
PR
6.0

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

Sources: World Bank (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2013–2021), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei (2016), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Brunei passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Puerto Rico.

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 Puerto Rico than Brunei?

On average Puerto Rico is around 65% pricier than Brunei, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?

Budget about $30,750 for 3 months in Puerto Rico (based on a BND96,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

Connectivity is usually fine (Puerto Rico: 28.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Puerto Rico offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?

Brunei performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.

How is healthcare in Puerto Rico compared to Brunei?

Brunei performs better than Puerto Rico across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.

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At a Glance

BN PR
Population 466,330 3,184,835
Currency Brunei Dollar (BND) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Malay English, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +673 +1
Time zones 1 1