Asia · Bandar Seri Begawan
Cost of living in Brunei
Brunei is 63% cheaper than the US, ranking #132 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Brunei, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (102), while housing & utilities is the most affordable (47).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $37,500 in Brunei.
Quality of life
89/100 · #59 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Brunei
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy subsequently brought on a period of decline. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries, and in 2017, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne. Brunei has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world, thanks to extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Brunei expensive to live in?
Brunei is 63% cheaper than the US, ranking #132 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; housing & utilities costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Brunei?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $37,500 in Brunei, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Brunei cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 37.4, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Brunei?
Brunei scores 89 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#59 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 76 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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