Moving to Brunei from Thailand
What to Expect
Considering a move from Thailand to Brunei? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Thailand to Brunei, you would find that Brunei is 49.7% more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,519,732 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly BND139,358 in Brunei to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Malay.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Thailand and Brunei.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,519,732 → BND139,358
To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 30.6% more
Groceries
pay 55.2% more
Transportation
pay 26.5% more
Housing
pay 2.1 times more
Childcare
pay 22.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 54.5% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Thailand to Brunei.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Brunei compared to Thailand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Brunei performs significantly better than Thailand 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
Thailand 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
Thailand 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
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Brunei performs significantly better than Thailand across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though Thailand leads in unemployment rate.
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 Thailand leads in infant mortality.
Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bangkok | Bandar Seri Begawan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Bandar Seri Begawan |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.
Thailand passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa Free
Brunei passport holder visiting Thailand
Visa FreeData: 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 Thailand?
On average Brunei is around 44% pricier than Thailand, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Brunei?
Budget about BND34,840 for 3 months in Brunei (based on a THB2,519,732 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?
Brunei performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brunei is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand.
How is healthcare in Brunei compared to Thailand?
Thailand 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 9.3 in Thailand. Brunei scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in Brunei compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan is 89°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Bandar Seri Begawan receives around 114.7 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in Brunei?
The official language in Brunei is Malay. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
