Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and Spain Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and Spain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $205 per month in Bhutan vs $1,642 in Spain, rent included.

A couple spends around $315 per month in Bhutan vs $2,399 in Spain, rent included.

A family of three spends $424 per month in Bhutan vs $3,155 in Spain, rent included.

Bhutan is roughly 88% cheaper than Spain on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Bhutan sits 85% below the global median, while Spain is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 BTN 241
$15.98 €13.77
-82.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.24 BTN 1,455
$57.6 €49.63
-70.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.47 BTN 293
$10.27 €8.85
-66.21%
Cappuccino
$1.40 BTN 118
$2.38 €2.05
-41.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 BTN 43.86
$2.58 €2.22
-79.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 BTN 16.23
$1.83 €1.58
-89.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 BTN 247
$3.54 €3.05
-17.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 BTN 199
$4.09 €3.52
-42.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 BTN 72.0
$1.22 €1.05
-30.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 BTN 72.8
$1.53 €1.31
-43.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.66 BTN 55.4
$1.60 €1.38
-58.75%
Eggs
$1.95 BTN 165
$2.93 €2.53
-33.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.23 BTN 273
$14.33 €12.34
-77.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 BTN 311
$8.31 €7.16
-55.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.12 BTN 348
$15.62 €13.46
-73.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 BTN 231
$2.53 €2.18
7.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 BTN 142
$1.99 €1.72
-15.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 BTN 182
$2.11 €1.82
1.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 BTN 80.6
$2.54 €2.19
-62.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 BTN 46.04
$1.77 €1.52
-68.93%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 BTN 62.0
$1.98 €1.70
-63.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 BTN 33.58
$1.30 €1.12
-69.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 BTN 34.23
$0.74 €0.64
-44.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 BTN 317
$6.19 €5.33
-39.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.08 BTN 260
$5.93 €5.11
-48.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 BTN 60.0
$1.25 €1.07
-43.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 BTN 100
$2.07 €1.78
-42.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 BTN 171
$1.78 €1.53
14.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.98 BTN 336
$34.91 €30.08
-88.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 BTN 72.3
$4.48 €3.86
-80.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 BTN 198
$1.34 €1.15
74.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.17 BTN 14.04
$26.24 €22.61
-99.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 BTN 75.4
$1.76 €1.51
-49.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K BTN 1.7M
$38.2K €32.9K
-48.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K BTN 2.0M
$31.6K €27.3K
-23.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.22 BTN 1,960
$149 €128
-84.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.89 BTN 3,199
$20.16 €17.37
87.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.87 BTN 1,930
$34.11 €29.39
-32.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.90 BTN 4,044
$47.12 €40.60
1.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.29 BTN 531
$15.83 €13.64
-60.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.46 BTN 292
$9.47 €8.16
-63.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$247 BTN 20.8K
$517 €445
-52.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$669 BTN 56.5K
$10.2K €8,752
-93.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.30 BTN 1,714
$87.2 €75.1
-76.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.74 BTN 991
$37.36 €32.19
-68.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.73 BTN 4,029
$91.3 €78.7
-47.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.29 BTN 3,316
$106 €91.0
-62.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$104 BTN 8,769
$1,074 €925
-90.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$70.1 BTN 5,920
$815 €702
-91.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 BTN 15.0K
$1,691 €1,457
-89.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 BTN 11.5K
$1,228 €1,058
-88.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,493 BTN 463.7K
$4,338 €3,738
26.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 BTN 138.4K
$2,744 €2,364
-40.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$421 BTN 35.6K
$2,031 €1,750
-79.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.75
3.51
206.27%

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

Last update for Bhutan: June 8, 2026

Last update for Spain: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $84.0 in Bhutan vs $898 in Spain. For reference, capital cities sit at $117 in Thimphu and $1,609 in Madrid.

Average salary: $385 in Bhutan vs $2,011 in Spain. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 969% higher in Spain.

Dining out costs 1225% more in Spain.

Public transport is 3200% more expensive in Spain.

Salaries are 422% higher in Spain, giving Bhutan stronger purchasing power.

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 Spain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhutan more expensive than Spain?
Bhutan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 830% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Spain, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Spain consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Bhutan, contributing to the overall 830% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Bhutan or Spain?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Bhutan, but in Spain it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Bhutan or Spain?
Bhutan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Bhutan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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