Essentials
- City
- Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara, Brunei Darussalam
- Population
- Approximately 150,000 (Metropolitan area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-150 Mbps on Imagine or UNN fiber backbone
- Currency & Banking
- Brunei Dollar (BND), pegged 1:1 with Singapore Dollar. 1 USD ≈ 1.34 BND
- Tap Water
- Generally safe but boiling or filtering is recommended for long-term consumption
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK standard)
- SIM Card
- DST (Easi) or Progresif. Pre-paid 10GB for approx. 25 BND
- Banking for Expats
- BIBD, Baiduri Bank, and Standard Chartered are primary options
- Accommodation
- Mix of serviced apartments (The Capital Residence) and private rentals via Progress Real Estate
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and QR (BIBD QuickPay) widely accepted in malls and chain stores
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb is limited; serviced apartments like Higher Hotel start at 60 BND/night
- Budget Accommodation
- Co.Living Hostel Bandar (approx. 20-30 BND/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown (near Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque) or Kiulap
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Gadong or Kiulap for proximity to cafes, gyms, and commercial centers
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Anggerek Desa Technology Park (iCentre) - approx. 150 BND/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Roasted Sip (Jerudong or Kampong Kiulap) - Quiet atmosphere, excellent Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Events organized by DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) at Design & Tech Centre
- Social Events for Expats
- Panaga Club (in Seria) or Brunei Foreign Correspondents Club events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Dart (Brunei's local version of Uber/Grab)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited; Kingdom Rides & Adventures for specialized bicycle rentals
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tungku Beach or Muara Beach (approx. 20 mins from city center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Royal Brunei Airlines (RB)
- Top International Airline
- Singapore Airlines, AirAsia (via KL)
- Highway Access
- Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Bridge connects to Temburong; Muara-Tutong Highway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; BSB Bus Terminal (Jalan Cator) is the primary hub
- Public Transport Passes
- Purple buses (Franchise buses) - 1 BND per trip flat rate
- Regional Travel
- Ferry from Serasa Terminal to Labuan (Malaysia) - approx. 17 BND
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 2,800 BND per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 112,000 BND) - Limited for foreigners
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 2,200 BND per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 88,000 BND)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 2,500 BND per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 150,000 BND)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 2,000 BND per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 120,000 BND)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 2,300 BND per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 184,000 BND)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 1,800 BND per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 144,000 BND)
- Corporate Tax
- 18.5% (One of the lowest in the region)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (No withholding tax on dividends)
- Tax System
- Territorial (No personal income tax for residents)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (There is no personal income tax in Brunei)
- VAT
- 0% (No VAT or sales tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None
- Property Tax
- Commercial properties are subject to rates; residential is minimal/zero
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty applies based on value, usually 0.6% to 3%
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% personal income tax makes it highly attractive, though residency is hard to obtain
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- RIPAS Hospital (Public) or Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC - Private/Luxury)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Tree (Kiulap) - drop-in classes around 15-20 BND
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness Zone (Kiulap/Serusop) - high-end facility by Wu Chun; approx. 80-100 BND/month
- Laundry Services
- Laundromats like Cleanpro Express (various locations) - approx. 5 BND for wash/dry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoMamam or HeyDomo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Ambuyat (Sago starch) served at Aminah Arif Restaurant
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Pureland Vegetarian (Gadong) or The Vegan Niches
- Best Dessert Spots
- Thien Thien (famous for Kaya Toast) or Marche (Kiulap) for pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Gadong (Night Market) for cheap local eats (1-5 BND)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Zalora (Regional) or local Instagram-based shops
- Grocery Delivery
- Supasave (via their online portal) - high quality imported goods
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- No alcohol/bars in Brunei (strictly dry country). Social life centers around cafes/malls
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol is prohibited/illegal to produce or sell)
- Wine Bars
- None; Non-Muslims may bring limited personal allowance across the border
- Street Food Stalls
- Gadong Night Market (Pasar Malam Gadong)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Excapade Sushi (Local favorite for Japanese) - various locations
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
- Museums & Art Venues
- Royal Regalia Museum (Free entry; contains Sultan's gifts and chariots)
- Historical Sites
- Kampong Ayer (World's largest water village)
- Religious Sites
- Ash-Shaliheen Mosque (Moroccan-style architecture)
- Annual Events
- Sultan's Birthday Celebrations (July 15th) - Includes night markets and parades
- Cultural Districts
- Kota Batu (Museum district)
- Theater Venues
- Jerudong Park Amphitheatre
- Local Markets
- Tamu Kianggeh (Morning wet market by the river)
- Music Scene
- Very limited; local acoustic performances at private cafe events
- Street Art
- Big Wall Art at Jalan Sultan (historical depictions)
- Cooking Classes
- The Culinary Institute at Laksamana College of Business
- Art Galleries
- Creative Space Art Gallery & Studio (Sengkurong)
- Historic Buildings
- Istana Nurul Iman (Official residence - world's largest palace)
- Local Heritage
- Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) - the core national philosophy
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Tasek Lama Recreational Park (hiking and jungle trails in the city)
- National Parks Nearby
- Ulu Temburong National Park (Accessible via boat/bridge excursion)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Bandarku Ceria (City center roads closed to cars on Sunday mornings)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Bukit Shahbandar Forest Park (Excellent ridge views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally discouraged in public parks; Berakas Forest Reserve has BBQ pits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- MPC (Mail Processing Centre) or DHL for international
- Tech Repair Services
- AV Electronics (Authorized Apple Service Provider) in Kiulap
- Table Tennis Spots
- Menglait Sports Complex
- Language Classes
- Language Centre at UBD (Universiti Brunei Darussalam) for Malay
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Library (Gadong)
- Community Centers
- Youth Centre (Pusat Belia) BSB
- Gaming Lounges
- Netcom Computer House or generic internet cafes in Gadong
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Strictly illegal in Brunei