Moving to Brunei from Ireland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ireland to Brunei, you would find that Brunei is 19.3% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,577 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly BND72,115 in Brunei to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Malay. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bandar Seri Begawan averages 89°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Ireland and Brunei.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 BND72,115

To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 62.7% less

Groceries

pay 7.5% more

Transportation

pay 29.7% less

Housing

pay 37.3% less

Childcare

pay 3.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 34.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.48 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

The numbers behind daily life in Brunei compared to Ireland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
BN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IE
2.8
BN
3.6

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Brunei leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IE
$8,772
BN
$1,896
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
BN
19.1

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland 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

IE
13.0
BN
20.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
BN
20.2t

Ireland performs better than Brunei across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IE
32.1
BN
20.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
BN
3.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IE
4.3%
BN
5.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
BN
$77,900

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Brunei leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IE
81.7 yrs
BN
78.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
BN
10.5

Ireland generally does better on family life, though Brunei leads in education spending.

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Bandar Seri Begawan
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 90°/75°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 89°/74°F (31°/23°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Bandar Seri Begawan
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Brunei

Visa Free
Ireland passport holders can enter Brunei without a visa.
Brunei passport

Brunei passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
Brunei passport holders can enter Ireland 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 Ireland?

On average Brunei is about 26% less expensive than Ireland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Brunei?

Budget about BND18,029 for 3 months in Brunei (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Brunei?

Connectivity is usually fine (Brunei: 20.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Brunei offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Brunei safe for expats?

Ireland generally does better on safety, though Brunei leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Brunei is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Brunei compared to Ireland?

Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 19.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Brunei, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. Brunei scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan is 89°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Bandar Seri Begawan receives around 114.7 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Brunei?

The official language in Brunei is Malay. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE BN
Population 5,275,004 478,054
Currency Euro (€) Brunei Dollar (BND)
Languages English, Irish Malay
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +353 +673
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112