Moving to Brunei from United Arab Emirates
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Arab Emirates to Brunei? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Arab Emirates to Brunei, you would find that Brunei is 4.2% more expensive than United Arab Emirates overall. A AED275,438 salary in United Arab Emirates would need to be roughly BND83,766 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. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Arab Emirates and Brunei. What does your salary buy? AED275,438 → BND83,766 To maintain the same standard of living in Brunei How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 17.7% less Groceries pay 63.4% more Transportation pay 44.5% more Housing pay 46.2% less Childcare pay 8.2% less Entertainment and Sports pay 17.4% 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. 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. The numbers behind daily life in Brunei compared to United Arab Emirates. per 100,000 people per year per 100,000 people per year United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Brunei leads in road traffic deaths. 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 Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year United Arab Emirates generally does better on environment, though Brunei leads in air pollution deaths. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet United Arab Emirates generally does better on infrastructure, though Brunei leads in water stress level. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person the highest marginal rate on personal income United Arab Emirates generally does better on employment & economy, though Brunei leads in gdp per capita. 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 United Arab Emirates generally does better on family life, though Brunei leads in education spending. Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Arab Emirates 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 Arab Emirates passport holder visiting Brunei Brunei passport holder visiting United Arab Emirates Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average Brunei is about 14% less expensive than United Arab Emirates, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about BND20,942 for 3 months in Brunei (based on a AED275,438 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees. 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? United Arab Emirates generally does better on safety, though Brunei leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Brunei is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in United Arab Emirates. Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Arab Emirates leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 19.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Brunei, compared to 29.1 in United Arab Emirates. Brunei scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Arab Emirates: 82). The average high temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan is 89°F, compared to 93°F in Abu Dhabi. Bandar Seri Begawan receives around 114.7 in of rainfall per year, while Abu Dhabi gets 3.5 in. The official language in Brunei is Malay. In United Arab Emirates, the official language is Arabic. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Abu Dhabi Bandar Seri Begawan Jan–Mar 78°/56°F (26°/14°C) 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) Apr–Jun 99°/72°F (37°/22°C) 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) Jul–Sep 106°/81°F (41°/27°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) Oct–Dec 87°/64°F (31°/18°C) 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) View all months
Month Abu Dhabi Bandar Seri Begawan Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.8°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) Feb 76°/56°F (24.6°/13.2°C) 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) Mar 83°/60°F (28.6°/15.8°C) 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) Apr 92°/66°F (33.4°/19.1°C) 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) May 101°/73°F (38.4°/22.8°C) 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) Jun 103°/77°F (39.6°/24.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) Jul 108°/82°F (42.0°/27.6°C) 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) Aug 107°/84°F (41.5°/28.7°C) 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) Sep 104°/78°F (40.1°/25.6°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) Oct 96°/71°F (35.8°/21.8°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) Nov 87°/64°F (30.6°/17.5°C) 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) Dec 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Brunei than United Arab Emirates?
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Is Brunei safe for expats?
How is healthcare in Brunei compared to United Arab Emirates?
What's the weather like in Brunei compared to United Arab Emirates?
What language do they speak in Brunei?
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department
