Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and SpainCost 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 $2,392 in Spain, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $425 per month in Bhutan vs $3,142 in Spain, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Bhutan is roughly 88% lower than in Spain on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Bhutan sits 85% below the global median, while Spain is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84BTN 240
$16.06€14.00
-82.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.15BTN 1,448
$56.9€49.57
-69.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.54BTN 298
$10.30€8.98
-65.63%
Cappuccino
$1.46BTN 123
$2.32€2.02
-37.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48BTN 40.45
$2.60€2.27
-81.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15BTN 12.34
$1.84€1.60
-91.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.98BTN 251
$3.43€2.99
-13.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32BTN 196
$3.97€3.46
-41.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88BTN 74.3
$1.19€1.04
-26.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84BTN 71.0
$1.52€1.33
-44.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67BTN 56.5
$1.67€1.46
-59.88%
Eggs
$2.01BTN 170
$2.98€2.60
-32.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.29BTN 278
$14.42€12.58
-77.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.73BTN 315
$8.59€7.49
-56.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.18BTN 353
$15.95€13.91
-73.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82BTN 238
$2.51€2.19
12.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75BTN 147
$2.07€1.81
-15.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05BTN 173
$2.04€1.78
0.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95BTN 80.5
$2.64€2.30
-64.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55BTN 46.66
$1.76€1.53
-68.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72BTN 60.4
$1.98€1.73
-63.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43BTN 36.02
$1.35€1.17
-68.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37BTN 31.54
$0.74€0.65
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77BTN 318
$6.27€5.46
-39.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.08BTN 260
$5.75€5.01
-46.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76BTN 64.3
$1.30€1.14
-41.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18BTN 100.0
$2.06€1.80
-42.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05BTN 173
$1.77€1.54
15.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.89BTN 329
$34.49€30.07
-88.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85BTN 71.9
$4.49€3.91
-81.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33BTN 196
$1.32€1.15
76.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.17BTN 14.72
$27.12€23.64
-99.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97BTN 82.0
$1.80€1.57
-46.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KBTN 1.7M
$38.2K€33.3K
-48.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KBTN 2.0M
$30.8K€26.9K
-22.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.55BTN 1,988
$149€130
-84.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.32BTN 3,235
$20.14€17.56
90.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51BTN 1,900
$33.50€29.21
-32.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.57BTN 4,100
$46.30€40.37
4.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.33BTN 534
$15.61€13.61
-59.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41BTN 288
$9.40€8.20
-63.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$244BTN 20.6K
$522€455
-53.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$661BTN 55.8K
$9,880€8,613
-93.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.20BTN 1,705
$88.1€76.8
-77.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.42BTN 964
$35.98€31.36
-68.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.06BTN 4,142
$89.0€77.6
-44.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.49BTN 3,249
$108€94.2
-64.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106BTN 8,955
$1,039€906
-89.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$68.0BTN 5,738
$820€715
-91.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$171BTN 14.5K
$1,689€1,472
-89.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137BTN 11.5K
$1,214€1,058
-88.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,470BTN 461.8K
$4,301€3,750
27.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,625BTN 137.2K
$2,604€2,270
-37.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bhutan
Spain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$413BTN 34.8K
$1,982€1,728
-79.18%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Spain: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $85.0 in Bhutan vs $898 in Spain. For reference, capital cities sit at $117 in Thimphu and $1,561 in Madrid.
💰Average salary: $387 in Bhutan vs $1,989 in Spain. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 956% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 1667% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 3200% more expensive in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 414% higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Bhutan.
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 851% 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 851% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Bhutan or in 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 to 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.