Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and China

🙂 Solo nomad: Bhutan is 17.5% cheaper than China without rent, and 38.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bhutan is 20.3% cheaper than China without rent, and 39.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bhutan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.89 BTN 244
$2.85 ¥20.46
1.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.66 BTN 1,490
$23.97 ¥172
-26.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.59 BTN 303
$4.96 ¥35.61
-27.62%
Cappuccino
$1.4 BTN 118
$3.13 ¥22.47
-55.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 BTN 41.33
$0.44 ¥3.18
11.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 BTN 14.92
$0.29 ¥2.1
-37.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 BTN 248
$0.95 ¥6.83
209.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 BTN 194
$2.14 ¥15.32
7.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bhutan
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 BTN 72.7
$1.85 ¥13.23
-53.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.8 BTN 67.7
$1.68 ¥12.06
-52.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 BTN 60.3
$0.95 ¥6.81
-25.26%
Eggs
$1.94 BTN 164
$1.55 ¥11.11
25.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.35 BTN 283
$13.25 ¥95.1
-74.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.59 BTN 303
$3.28 ¥23.52
9.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.19 BTN 354
$10.85 ¥77.8
-61.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.8 BTN 236
$1.77 ¥12.66
58.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 BTN 140
$1.26 ¥9.01
31.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 BTN 172
$1.5 ¥10.73
36.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 BTN 78
$1.19 ¥8.5
-22.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 BTN 45.72
$0.75 ¥5.4
-28.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 BTN 60.2
$0.86 ¥6.15
-17.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 BTN 33.16
$0.61 ¥4.37
-36.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 BTN 34.12
$0.58 ¥4.14
-31.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.68 BTN 311
$3.45 ¥24.74
6.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.44 BTN 290
$11.3 ¥81.1
-69.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 BTN 62.6
$0.84 ¥6
-11.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 BTN 99.9
$1.68 ¥12.05
-29.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Bhutan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 BTN 170
$0.4 ¥2.86
402.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.06 BTN 343
$20.83 ¥149
-80.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 BTN 74.8
$1.36 ¥9.74
-34.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 BTN 191
$0.35 ¥2.55
545.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.15 BTN 12.49
$6.8 ¥48.75
-97.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 BTN 74.8
$1.12 ¥8.05
-20.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19K BTN 1.6M
$19.2K ¥137.7K
-1.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K BTN 2.1M
$16.7K ¥119.8K
49.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bhutan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.26 BTN 1,963
$51.4 ¥369
-54.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.12 BTN 3,133
$9.77 ¥70.1
279.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.22 BTN 1,876
$11.34 ¥81.3
95.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bhutan
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.06 BTN 4,142
$39.55 ¥284
24.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.28 BTN 530
$14.89 ¥107
-57.82%
Cinema Ticket
$3.56 BTN 301
$6.23 ¥44.71
-42.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bhutan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$241 BTN 20.4K
$417 ¥2,989
-42.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$664 BTN 56.1K
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-96.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bhutan
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.2 BTN 1,705
$45.65 ¥327
-55.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.81 BTN 997
$33.49 ¥240
-64.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.48 BTN 4,177
$71.8 ¥515
-31.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.79 BTN 3,275
$72.9 ¥523
-46.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bhutan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$106 BTN 8,923
$445 ¥3,194
-76.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$68.1 BTN 5,748
$255 ¥1,830
-73.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$172 BTN 14.5K
$915 ¥6,566
-81.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 BTN 11.9K
$543 ¥3,895
-73.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,527 BTN 128.9K
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-75.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,619 BTN 136.6K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
-43.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bhutan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$566 BTN 47.8K
$942 ¥6,755
-39.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.75
4.06
164.78%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bhutan: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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