Moving to Brunei from Illinois
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Illinois to Brunei — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Illinois to Brunei, you would find that Brunei is 24.0% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly BND89,009 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 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Illinois to Brunei.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → BND89,009
To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 61.2% less
Groceries
pay 3.7% less
Transportation
pay 4.5% less
Housing
pay 41.8% less
Childcare
pay 70.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.2% less
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?
Real numbers on people moving from Illinois to Brunei, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Illinois and Brunei stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Brunei performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Brunei performs significantly better than Illinois across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Brunei leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Brunei performs significantly better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Bandar Seri Begawan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Bandar Seri Begawan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa Free
Brunei passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Illinois?
Generally yes: Brunei runs about 8% cheaper than Illinois on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Brunei?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around BND22,252 in Brunei for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Brunei?
Working remotely from Brunei's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Brunei.
How is healthcare in Brunei compared to Illinois?
Brunei performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Brunei compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan is 89°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Bandar Seri Begawan receives around 114.7 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Brunei?
The official language in Brunei is Malay. In Illinois, the official language is English.
