Brunei vs Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste costs roughly 48% less than Brunei, though Brunei scores higher on both safety and healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Timor-Leste is approximately 48% less expensive than Brunei based on cost of living including rent. This makes Timor-Leste a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Timor-Leste has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 53.57, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Timor-Leste is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Brunei
A 1BR near the center runs $767.6, cheaper than most mid-size US cities, and the safety index of 78.4 beats nearly everywhere stateside. But Brunei offers no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and a difficult path to citizenship, making access difficult. This is a place to visit on a work contract, not a plan for retiring long-term.
$1,409/mo
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About Timor-Leste
Low income tax (max 10%) paired with a Digital Nomad Visa ($1,500/mo requirement) suits remote workers testing frontier markets before committing elsewhere, not retirees, since there is no retirement visa and a complex path to residency. Safety score is moderate (53.57/100) and English proficiency is low, so this fits someone comfortable navigating bureaucracy without local language skills. Bad fit: anyone needing English-speaking healthcare, established expat infrastructure, or a clear long-term residency plan.
$2,231/mo
Not sure which Timor-Leste visa you qualify for?
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
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Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Brunei | Timor-Leste |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 1: Normal Precautions | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 136.2 +110.1 | 26.05 |
| Healthcare Index | 62.7 +11.6 | 51.14 |
| Safety Index | 78.4 +24.8 | 53.57 |
| Cost of Living Index | 44.4 | 30.1 +14.3 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $823.1 | $381.8 +441.3 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $3,024.2 | $1,285 +1,739.2 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $767.6 | $387.5 +380.1 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $529.19 | $275 +254.19 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,143.69 | $775 +368.69 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $730.35 | $425 +305.35 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 85.53 Mbps +85.5 | 0 Mbps |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Timor-Leste. File confidently from abroad.
File your taxes →International health insurance from $45/mo
Get covered before you move to Timor-Leste. Genki Traveler offers insurance designed for nomads and expats.
Get a quote →Explore Timor-Leste
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