Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhutan and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $204 per month in Bhutan vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $314 per month in Bhutan vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $424 per month in Bhutan vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Bhutan is roughly 92% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Bhutan sits 85% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.95 BTN 249

$20.04 $20.04

-85.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.23 BTN 1,454

$76.0 $76.0

-77.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.44 BTN 290

$11.42 $11.42

-69.88%

Cappuccino

$1.45 BTN 123

$5.39 $5.39

-73.10%

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

$0.48 BTN 40.47

$2.55 $2.55

-81.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 BTN 13.43

$2.04 $2.04

-92.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BTN 252

$6.14 $6.14

-51.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 BTN 195

$7.18 $7.18

-67.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 BTN 73.5

$1.04 $1.04

-16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 BTN 71.8

$3.65 $3.65

-76.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 BTN 56.9

$4.73 $4.73

-85.84%

Eggs

$1.96 BTN 165

$4.38 $4.38

-55.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.18 BTN 269

$12.76 $12.76

-75.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 BTN 309

$12.42 $12.42

-70.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.23 BTN 357

$16.41 $16.41

-74.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 BTN 234

$5.42 $5.42

-48.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 BTN 148

$1.65 $1.65

6.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 BTN 179

$4.59 $4.59

-53.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 BTN 78.0

$4.91 $4.91

-81.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 BTN 43.33

$2.92 $2.92

-82.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 BTN 60.0

$3.13 $3.13

-77.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 BTN 33.57

$2.26 $2.26

-82.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 BTN 34.50

$2.30 $2.30

-82.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.80 BTN 321

$9.89 $9.89

-61.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.25 BTN 274

$15.10 $15.10

-78.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 BTN 62.5

$1.91 $1.91

-61.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 BTN 100

$3.66 $3.66

-67.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 BTN 168

$2.48 $2.48

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.10 BTN 347

$64.8 $64.8

-93.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 BTN 76.4

$3.84 $3.84

-76.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 BTN 191

$1.76 $1.76

28.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.15 BTN 12.69

$30.58 $30.58

-99.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 BTN 80.3

$0.96 $0.96

-1.04%

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

$19.3K BTN 1.6M

$30.5K $30.5K

-36.61%

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

$24.7K BTN 2.1M

$26.4K $26.4K

-6.47%

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

$22.67 BTN 1,914

$204 $204

-88.90%

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

$37.55 BTN 3,170

$57.3 $57.3

-34.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.97 BTN 1,939

$71.2 $71.2

-67.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.34 BTN 4,081

$46.67 $46.67

3.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.29 BTN 531

$22.12 $22.12

-71.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 BTN 298

$13.84 $13.84

-74.49%

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

$242 BTN 20.4K

$1,384 $1,384

-82.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$680 BTN 57.4K

$22.7K $22.7K

-97.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.29 BTN 1,713

$53.0 $53.0

-61.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.58 BTN 978

$43.17 $43.17

-73.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.51 BTN 4,095

$90.6 $90.6

-46.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.46 BTN 3,331

$114 $114

-65.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 BTN 8,854

$1,766 $1,766

-94.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.9 BTN 5,815

$1,459 $1,459

-95.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$176 BTN 14.9K

$2,832 $2,832

-93.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 BTN 11.9K

$2,411 $2,411

-94.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,532 BTN 466.9K

$3,287 $3,287

68.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,689 BTN 142.5K

$2,650 $2,650

-36.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$423 BTN 35.7K

$4,379 $4,379

-90.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.75

6.51

65.13%

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

Last update for Bhutan: May 30, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $85.0 in Bhutan vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $118 in Thimphu and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $393 in Bhutan vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1826% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 1725% more in United States.

Public transport is 2400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1045% higher in United States, 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bhutan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 1312% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Bhutan, contributing to the overall 1312% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Bhutan, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.