The tiny country of Brunei is on the northwest coast of Borneo. It was a British protectorate from 1888 until 1994, when it finally gained its independence. It’s an oil-rich sultanate whose population has one of the highest per capital incomes in the world. Brunei has stunning beaches and rainforests, many of which are in protected reserves. It’s a country renowned for its calm atmosphere, welcoming people and stunning landscapes and coastline.
If you are considering moving to Brunei, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this part of the world.
Quick Brunei Facts:
- Population: 448,139 (January 2023)
- Official Language:Malay with English being widely spoken
- GDP Per Capita:US$79,816 (2022)
- Longest reigning male monarch: the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the world’s longest reigning male monarch, having ruled for 55 years.
- Currency: Brunei dollar (BND/B$). As of 2023, BND1= £0.61, US$0.76, €0.70, $1.02 (CAD), $1.09 (AUD).
1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Brunei
Here are some sample shipping costs to Brunei from other countries around the world.
Also see the Best International Moving Companies in Brunei.
2. Brunei Housing Costs
Most Bruneians live in subsidised houses, with the government providing free plots and low-interest and long-term subsidy housing loans. Expats, most of whom work for the oil giant Shell, live in hotels, serviced apartments, houses and unserviced apartments. Forty percent of Brunei’s population is made up of expats and housing shortages for expats are common.
Monthly Rental Prices in Brunei
- 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre: BND400.34 – BND1,301.11
- 1 bedroom apartment outside the city centre: BND310.26 – BND900.77
- 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre: BND1,201.03 – BND2,502.14
- 3-bedroom apartment outside the city centre: BND800.68– BND1,501.28
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in the city centre: BND2,154.62 – BND2,502.14
- Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside the city: BND1,201.03 – BND2,001.71
Source: Numbeo
Brunei Housing Cost Comparison
Below are how rents in Brunei compare with other countries around the globe.
United Kingdom is 74.1% more expensive
United States is 160.8% more expensive
Canada is 86.4% more expensive
Australia is 121.3% more expensive
Germany is 47.1% more expensive
France is 36.8% more expensive
Spain is 23.1% more expensive
Italy is 14.7% more expensive
Source: Numbeo
How to Save on Housing Costs
- Share an apartment or house. Room or flat sharing is a good option for saving money if you’re not being provided with company housing. The following sites will help you to find your perfect room or flatmate:Roommates in Brunei, Erasmusu, Iroommates, and Roomlala.
- Different areas – different prices. Most expats live in Brunei-Muara district and the capital city – Bandar Seri Begawan. As Brunei is such a small country rental prices are consistent throughout the sultanate.
3. Brunei Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs
Food, both in restaurants and supermarkets is influenced by the cultures that have made their mark on Brunei. You’ll find food from Thailand, China and Indonesia in both fine dining restaurants and on the street. Bruneians enjoy eating out and there’s a wide selection of excellent restaurants and coffee shops which are reasonably priced and serve excellent food.
- Inexpensive Restaurant: BND3.00 – BND10.01
- Domestic Beer: BND2.50 – BND5.50
- Coke/Pepsi: BND1.00 – BND2.50
- 1L of milk: BND1.80 – BND5.00
- Loaf of Bread: BND1.20 – BND5.00
- 12 Eggs: BND1.90 – BND4.50
- 1kg Chicken Fillets: BND5.00 – BND15.01
- 1kg Beef: BND11.00 – BND40.03
- 1kg Apples: BND3.50 – 8.40
- 1kg White Rice: BND1.20 – BND4.00
Source: Numbeo
This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major countries in the world.
- UKrestaurants are 9% more expensive and groceries are 24.8% cheaper than in Brunei.
- United State restaurants are 1% more expensive and groceries are 9.7% more expensive than in Brunei.
- Canada restaurants are 1% more expensive and groceries are 0.1% cheaper than in Brunei.
- Australia restaurants are 1% more expensive and groceries are 16.3% more expensive than in Brunei.
- Germanyrestaurants are 9% more expensive and groceries are 20.3% cheaper than in Brunei.
- France restaurants are4% more expensive and groceries are 1.3% more expensive than in Brunei.
- Spain restaurants are 5% more expensive and groceries are 35.9% cheaper than in Brunei.
- Italy restaurants are 8% more expensive and groceries are 18.9% cheaper than in Brunei.
Source: Numbeo
Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries
- Know your supermarkets: Brunei has a good selection of supermarkets and grocers in its shopping malls. There are also some fantastic markets. The Gadong Night market in the country’s capital is particularly popular with locals and tourists alike. The major supermarkets in Brunei include Supa Save, Magu Grocer Supermarket and Hua Ho.
- Find Cheap Eats:Eating out in Brunei isn’t expensive but if you’d like to save some money on an evening out, then buy street food. It really is excellent in Brunei. Some hotels and restaurants offer early evening specials which are definitely worth looking into. Have a look at the following sites for tips of where to go for cheap eats in Brunei: Trip Advisor, Wanderlog, Travel for Food Hub and Sherlyn.
4. Brunei Alcohol Costs
Drinking alcohol is prohibited in Brunei. However, as a non-Muslim, you can import 2 litres of alcohol, or 12 cans of beer every 48 hours provided you are over 17 years and you consume the alcohol in your home or hotel room. Some restaurants and hotels do serve alcohol illegally but it’s not advisable to take advantage to this as the penalties are severe.
5. Brunei Transportation Fares
Brunei has one mode of public transport – the Franchise bus. There are six different colour buses, each of which follows a particular route so it’s easy to catch the right bus to your destination. Dart is Brunei’s answer to Uber. There are also water taxis which are fast and efficient.
Below are some example ticket costs.
- One-way ticket (local transport): BND1.00 – BND3.00
- Monthly Pass (regular price): BND30.03 – BND30.03
- Taxi start (normal tariff): BND3.50 – BND7.01
- Taxi 1km (normal tariff): BND3.50 – BND5.00
Source: Numbeo
How to save money on public transport
- The cheapest way to get around Brunei is bus transport
- Water taxis are an alternative
- Motorbikes and bicycles are also available to rent
- The country is safe so many people choose to walk to work or the shops
6. Cost of Internet in Brunei
Brunei has excellent internet, and the country ranks as one of the top 10 high-speed internet countries in the world with an average download speed of 102.06 Mbps. Below are the lowest broadband costs in 2023 in the country.
- Starlink SpaceX– BND130.89/Mo for 100 Mbit/s
- JTI Ku Band– BND145.44/Mo for 512 Kbit/s
7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure
Brunei experiences an equatorial climate with high temperatures throughout the year. The average minimum temperature in the country is 28.04C and the maximum average temperature is 32.4 degrees C. The country receives an annual rainfall of 3,000mm, with December usually being the wettest month.
Below are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.
- Pair of Jeans: BND40.00 – BND150.13
- Summer Dress: BND20.02 – BND89.00
- Running Shoes (Trainers): BND90.00 – BND200.00
- Business Shoes: BND50.04 – BND 250.00
- Short Doctor’s visit (15 minutes): BND42.00
- Deodorant: BND5.00
- Shampoo: BND7.00
- Toilet Paper (4 rolls): BND3.80
- Gym membership per month: BND40.03 – BND120.10
- Movie (cinema) ticket: BND3,000.00 – BND00
Source: Numbeo and Expatistan
8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Brunei
Car ownership in Brunei is high with 721cars per 1000 people. The road system is excellent and the roads are well maintained. You can drive on your home country’s driving licence for 12 months after which you will need to get a local driving licence. The Land Transport department gives detailed information on how to acquire a driving licence so you can legally drive in Brunei. Buying a new or used car is simple but cars are expensive.
Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Brunei:
- Volkswagen Golf: BND29,024.78 – BND50,042.72
- 1 litre (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):BND0.37 – BND0.54
- Other fees (if any):Buying a car in Brunei include registration fee (BND33.05), road tax (BND75.36), cost of license plate (BND52.89) and insurance (BND2,422.20). The average monthly cost of owning and running a car in Brunei is BND325.
Source: Numbeo, DEPS.MOFE.Gov.
Ways to save money driving in Brunei
- Car sharing or pooling hasn’t caught on yet in Brunei but shared rides through Carpool World are gaining in popularity.
- Taxis can be a cheaper option, especially if you have to pay for parking. Try DART Bruneiand Ride Guru.
Need your car/vehicle moved to Brunei? Then read our guide to Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping
9. Taxes in Brunei
Brunei does not impose personal income tax – Asian Briefing. Residents pay property tax which is 12% of the property value. Refer to Deloitte’s website for more information. There is no VAT in Brunei.
10. Flight Costs from Brunei
If you do make the move to Brunei, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of 2023:
- London: BND716
- New York: BND1,014
- Toronto: BND1,285
- Sydney: BND633
- Paris: BND738
- Rome: BND781
- Madrid: BND780
- Berlin: BND785
Other Brunei Relocation Tips
The above costs and pricing should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Brunei. But perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.
11. Relocating to Brunei Alone
It’s exciting moving to a different country but relocating alone can be challenging. However, the safe and pleasant atmosphere of Brunei and its welcoming people will make your move an easy one.
- Meetup: Meetup has many Bruneian groups to join where you can meet people who enjoy the same activities as you. History, IT, hiking, water sports and bridge are just a few of the groups and societies that welcome new members.
- Attend local events: There are many festivals and events organised in Brunei and many of them are free. Have a look at the following sites for inspiration – Trip Advisor, Brunei Events, Brunei Top 5 Festivals, and Festivals and Events in Brunei.
12. Moving to Brunei with a Family
Moving with a family is both challenging and exciting. Brunei is a family-friendly country with plenty to keep the kids entertained.
- New parents (or parents-to-be): Have look at Sophea in Wonderland for ideas on which groups to join to meet new parents or parents-to-be. Parenting for Young Parents and Smarter Brunei are also great sites for both advice and how to meet fellow parents.
- Live in a family-friendly area:Most expat families live in the capital city – Bandar Seri Begawan. There’s a good selection of schools and housing, both apartments and houses with gardens.
- Find things to do with the kids:Brunei is a great place for kids. Have a look at the following website for inspiration – Holidify, Expedia, Trip Advisor, KLARNA and Trip Hobo.
13. Moving to Brunei for Work
Moving to a new country for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.
Brunei has a strong and flourishing economy due to its oil and gas sector. There are job opportunities for mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical engineers, IT specialists, construction engineers, hospitality specialists and retail workers.
Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:
- Salary:The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea, how much more you’ll want to be making to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
- How to find work : If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Brunei, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are excellent: LinkedIn, Indeed, Internations, comand Visa Hunter.
14. Moving to Brunei from Australia
There’s a small Aussie contingent working and living in Brunei. If you are moving from Australia to Brunei, below are a few things to consider.
- Size comparison:Australia is 1,343 times bigger than Brunei. The population of Australia is 26,252,117 whereas the population of Brunei is only 448,139
- Join expat groups:Internations, MeetUp and Facebook offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Brunei.
15. Moving to Brunei from Canada
There’s a small group of Canadians living and working in Brunei. If you’re considering making the move from Canada and would like to connect with fellow Canadians, here are a few things to consider.
- Size:Canada is 1,732 times bigger than Brunei. The population of Canada is 38,583,352 (2024) whereas the population of Brunei is only 448,139.
- Expat groups:Meet fellow Canadians in Brunei through Internations and MeetUp.
16. Moving to Brunei from the United Kingdom
There’s a sizeable group of Brits living and working in Brunei. If you are considering moving from the UK and want to connect with fellow Brits in Brunei, then consider the following.
- Size: The UK is 42 times bigger than Brunei. The population of the UK is 68,792,283 (2024) whereas the population of Brunei is a mere 448,139.
- Expat groups:Meet fellow Brits in Brunei through Internations and MeetUp.
Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Brunei you can start by comparing moving quotes here.
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