Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and Pakistan

Name: Pakistan
Address: PK

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $502 in Bhutan, rent and utilities included – about $230 less a year. The total is higher in Bhutan despite lower rent and utilities.

24

Cost of Living Index in Bhutan
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Bhutan Living Index
23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
Learn more

Pakistan Living Index

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🇧🇹 Bhutan

$502

/mo nomad

🇵🇰 Pakistan

$483

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bhutan and in Pakistan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bhutan and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $502 per month in Bhutan vs $483 in Pakistan, rent included.

Bhutan $502
Pakistan $483

A couple spends around $778 per month in Bhutan vs $736 in Pakistan, rent included.

Bhutan $778
Pakistan $736

A family of three spends $1,053 per month in Bhutan vs $988 in Pakistan, rent included.

Bhutan $1,053
Pakistan $988

The regional cost range is wider in Bhutan ($103–$522) than in Pakistan ($291–$607), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Bhutan is about 4% higher than in Pakistan on average.

Both Bhutan and Pakistan are more affordable than the global median – Bhutan 63% lower, Pakistan 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.65 BTN 253

$2.11 PKR 582

25.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.13 BTN 1,346

$13.97 PKR 3,863

1.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 BTN 477

$5.50 PKR 1,522

-8.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PKR 615

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PKR 1,192

Cappuccino

$1.29 BTN 123

$1.97 PKR 545

-34.52%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BTN 46.17

$0.38 PKR 105

26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 BTN 15.48

$0.23 PKR 63.6

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BTN 244

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 BTN 155

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 BTN 74.0

$0.87 PKR 239

-10.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 BTN 80.2

$0.60 PKR 165

40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 BTN 94.1

$1.21 PKR 334

-18.18%

Eggs

$1.56 BTN 149

$1.21 PKR 333

28.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.33 BTN 318

$5.42 PKR 1,499

-38.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 BTN 354

$2.83 PKR 782

31.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.91 BTN 373

$5.06 PKR 1,399

-22.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 BTN 232

$1.20 PKR 331

103.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 BTN 150

$0.64 PKR 176

145.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 BTN 152

$0.87 PKR 241

82.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 BTN 87.6

$0.54 PKR 148

70.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 BTN 58.0

$0.33 PKR 91.7

84.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 BTN 65.6

$0.39 PKR 108

76.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 BTN 60.9

$0.37 PKR 104

72.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 BTN 31.73

$0.41 PKR 113

-19.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.08 PKR 574

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 296

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.88 BTN 369

$2.14 PKR 593

81.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.91 BTN 277

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BTN 80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 BTN 102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 BTN 78.2

$0.20 PKR 55.0

310.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.12 BTN 488

$10.01 PKR 2,766

-48.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 BTN 78.8

$0.88 PKR 243

-5.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 BTN 146

$0.56 PKR 155

175.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.14 BTN 13.61

$2.22 PKR 613

-93.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BTN 73.2

$1.29 PKR 357

-40.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.4K BTN 1.6M

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

-7.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.2K BTN 1.4M

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

-37.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$34.15 BTN 3,254

$110 PKR 30.5K

-69.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.40 BTN 3,469

$5.41 PKR 1,494

572.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 BTN 2,299

$15.79 PKR 4,365

52.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.93 BTN 4,472

$18.50 PKR 5,114

153.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.19 BTN 590

$11.09 PKR 3,064

-44.18%

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 BTN 301

$4.32 PKR 1,194

-26.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.49 BTN 4,240

$56.4 PKR 15.6K

-21.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$588 BTN 56.0K

$1,511 PKR 417.8K

-61.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.65 BTN 3,397

$17.56 PKR 4,855

103.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.58 BTN 1,675

$23.58 PKR 6,518

-25.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 BTN 5,211

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

-28.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.70 BTN 2,449

$35.08 PKR 9,697

-26.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 BTN 11.4K

$150 PKR 41.5K

-20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$85.6 BTN 8,152

$87.4 PKR 24.2K

-2.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 BTN 17.1K

$320 PKR 88.6K

-43.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 BTN 14.3K

$190 PKR 52.5K

-21.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,519 BTN 525.9K

$970 PKR 268.2K

468.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,676 BTN 159.7K

$520 PKR 143.9K

222.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$322 BTN 30.7K

$192 PKR 53.1K

67.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.1

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

Last update for Bhutan: October 26, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Bhutan

$121 24.1%

Pakistan

$94 19.5% 22.4% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bhutan

$95 18.9%

Pakistan

$131 27.2% 38.9% $37

Accommodation & Living

Bhutan

$86 17%

Pakistan

$87 18.1% 2.1% $1.8

Eating Out

Bhutan

$70 14%

Pakistan

$59 12.3% 15.5% $11

Clothing & Footwear

Bhutan

$60 12%

Pakistan

$69 14.3% 14.4% $8.7

Sport & Entertainment

Bhutan

$53 10.6%

Pakistan

$27 5.6% 49% $26

Getting Around

Bhutan

$17 3.4%

Pakistan

$14 3% 14.4% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $142 in Bhutan vs $137 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $128 in Thimphu and $261 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $295 in Bhutan vs $185 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 59% higher in Bhutan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Bhutan.

Good to know

🇧🇹 Bhutan

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🕒 Local time

14:25 2:25 PM

13:25 1:25 PM

1 h behind Bhutan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

787,424

223,773,700

💱 Currency

Bhutanese Ngultrum BTN Nu.

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BTN = 10.49 USD

1,000 BTN = 9.38 EUR

1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PKR, USD, EUR to BTN – Bhutanese Ngultrum Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇹 Bhutanese Ngultrum (Nu.)

Bhutanese Ngultrum exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 95.29 BTN (100 BTN = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 BTN (1,000 BTN = 9.38 EUR).

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 276 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 309 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR).

USD to BTN in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Bhutan Pakistan 1,730 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Bhutan
Pakistan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bhutan vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pakistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 4% lower on average.

Housing costs more in Bhutan: a central one-bedroom averages $142 versus $137 in Pakistan.

Pakistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.