Moving to South Korea from Brunei
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Brunei to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Brunei to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 29.9% more expensive than Brunei overall. A BND96,811 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly ₩97,435,608 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Brunei to South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
BND96,811 → ₩97,435,608
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 40.5% more
Groceries
pay 34.5% more
Transportation
pay 42.3% more
Housing
pay 14.6% more
Childcare
pay 81.5% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.1% 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?
How many people actually move from Brunei to South Korea, based on official data.
people moved from Brunei to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Brunei to South Korea.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Brunei performs better than South Korea across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Korea performs significantly better than Brunei across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though South Korea leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though South Korea leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Korea performs significantly better than Brunei across all family life metrics.
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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bandar Seri Begawan | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bandar Seri Begawan | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.
Brunei passport holder visiting South Korea
Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Korea 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 South Korea than Brunei?
Yes — South Korea is on average about 13% cheaper than Brunei. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₩24,358,902 in South Korea on a BND96,811 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 45.4 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 South Korea safe for expats?
Brunei performs better than South Korea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Brunei?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 19.1 in Brunei. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Brunei?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.
