Moving to Brunei from Sao Tome and Principe
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Sao Tome and Principe to Brunei — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Brunei, and you’d need to navigate life in Malay. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓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
How Sao Tome and Principe and Brunei stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Brunei performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Brunei leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Brunei performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Brunei generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa Required
Brunei passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Brunei?
With 20.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Brunei can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Sao Tome and Principe and Brunei.
Is Brunei safe for expats?
Brunei performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brunei is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
How is healthcare in Brunei compared to Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brunei leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 19.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Brunei, compared to 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Brunei scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).
What language do they speak in Brunei?
The official language in Brunei is Malay. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.
