Moving to Brunei from Ireland

moving to

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 50.7% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €67,000 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly BND47,600 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.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Brunei cheaper than Ireland?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 62.9% less

Groceries

pay 2.4% less

Transportation

pay 82.9% less

Housing

pay 54.8% less

Childcare

pay 47.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.44 BND (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.

What salary do you need in Brunei?

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → BND47,600

To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Brunei

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Brunei compared to Ireland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.7
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 World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

IE
38.8
BN
18.9

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei 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

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 World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IE
32.3
BN
21.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
8.1%
BN
3.5%

Ireland generally does better on infrastructure, though Brunei leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IE
4.6%
BN
5.3%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$131,592
BN
$32,235

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

IE
83.0 yrs
BN
75.5 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.4
BN
8.6

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

Sources: World Bank (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2013–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (2016), Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Brunei vs Ireland

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

Can you move from Ireland to Brunei?

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 51% less expensive than Ireland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Brunei?

Budget about BND11,900 for 3 months in Brunei (based on a €67,000 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: 21.2 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 0.7 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Brunei compared to Ireland?

Ireland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 18.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Brunei, compared to 38.8 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.

Share this

At a Glance

IE BN
Population 5,484,367 466,330
Currency Euro (€) Brunei Dollar (BND)
Languages English, Irish Malay
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +353 +673
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 —