Moving to Brunei from Guatemala

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Guatemala to Brunei, you would find that Brunei is 21.2% more expensive than Guatemala overall. A GTQ571,522 salary in Guatemala would need to be roughly BND124,618 in Brunei to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Malay. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bandar Seri Begawan averages 89°F vs 77°F in Guatemala City, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Guatemala to Brunei.

What does your salary buy?

GTQ571,522 BND124,618

To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 20.3% less

Groceries

pay 20.1% more

Transportation

pay 28.5% more

Housing

pay 12.6% more

Childcare

pay 39.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GTQ = 0.1694 BND (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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Guatemala to Brunei.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GT
20.0
BN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GT
12.6
BN
3.6

Brunei performs significantly better than Guatemala across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GT
$935
BN
$1,896
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

GT
12.8
BN
19.1

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala 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

GT
40.0
BN
20.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GT
1.1t
BN
20.2t

Guatemala generally does better on environment, though Brunei leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GT
3.7
BN
20.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GT
5.7%
BN
3.5%

Brunei performs significantly better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GT
2.7%
BN
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GT
$12,700
BN
$77,900

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GT
72.9 yrs
BN
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GT
26.2
BN
10.5

Brunei performs significantly better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.

Data: Superintendence of the Tax Administration, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Guatemala City Rain: 46.7 in/yr (1186 mm)
77° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bandar Seri Begawan Rain: 114.7 in/yr (2913 mm)
89° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Guatemala City Bandar Seri Begawan
Jan–Mar 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 90°/75°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) 89°/74°F (31°/23°C)
View all months
Month Guatemala City Bandar Seri Begawan
Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C)
Feb 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C)
Apr 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C)
May 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C)
Aug 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C)
Sep 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C)
Nov 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C)
Dec 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH) Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH), Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Brunei

Visa Required
Guatemala passport holders need a visa to enter Brunei.
Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Free
Brunei passport holders can enter Guatemala 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 Brunei than Guatemala?

No — Brunei is on average about 29% more expensive than Guatemala. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Brunei?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BND31,154 in Brunei on a GTQ571,522 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Brunei?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Brunei has 20.1 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 Brunei safe for expats?

Brunei performs significantly better than Guatemala across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brunei is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.0 in Guatemala.

How is healthcare in Brunei compared to Guatemala?

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guatemala leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 19.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Brunei, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Brunei scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).

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

The average high temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan is 89°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Bandar Seri Begawan receives around 114.7 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.

What language do they speak in Brunei?

The official language in Brunei is Malay. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

GT BN
Population 17,703,190 478,054
Currency Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) Brunei Dollar (BND)
Languages Spanish Malay
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +502 +673
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110