Moving to Brunei from New York
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New York to Brunei — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New York to Brunei, you would find that Brunei is 57.2% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly BND41,100 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 62°F in New York City, 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 New York?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 64.0% less
Groceries
pay 25.7% less
Transportation
pay 77.5% less
Housing
pay 64.1% less
Childcare
pay 80.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 41.5% 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.
What salary do you need in Brunei?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → BND41,100
To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Brunei
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New York to Brunei, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New York to Brunei.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
New York performs better than Brunei across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Brunei performs significantly better than New York across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New York performs better than Brunei across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New York performs better than Brunei across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Brunei vs New York
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New York City | Bandar Seri Begawan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | New York City | Bandar Seri Begawan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) |
| Feb | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) |
| Mar | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) |
| Apr | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) |
| Jun | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) |
| Jul | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) |
| Aug | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) |
| Sep | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) |
| Nov | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department
Can you move from New York to Brunei?
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 New York?
Yes — Brunei is on average about 57% cheaper than New York. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Brunei?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BND10,275 in Brunei on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Brunei?
Usually fine from major cities in Brunei. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Brunei compared to New York?
New York performs better than Brunei across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Brunei compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan is 89°F, compared to 62°F in New York City. Bandar Seri Begawan receives around 114.7 in of rainfall per year, while New York City gets 49.9 in.
What language do they speak in Brunei?
The official language in Brunei is Malay. In New York, the official language is English.
