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 $176 per month in Bhutan vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $284 per month in Bhutan vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $391 per month in Bhutan vs $5,033 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Bhutan is roughly 93% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Bhutan sits 87% below the global median, while United States is 90% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.63 BTN 222

$19.83 $19.83

-86.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.18 BTN 1,197

$78.8 $78.8

-82.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.61 BTN 305

$12.19 $12.19

-70.39%

Cappuccino

$1.34 BTN 113

$5.59 $5.59

-76.03%

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

$0.53 BTN 44.87

$2.78 $2.78

-80.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 BTN 15.36

$2.18 $2.18

-91.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BTN 227

$5.86 $5.86

-54.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 BTN 174

$8.02 $8.02

-74.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 BTN 72.0

$1.07 $1.07

-20.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 BTN 71.8

$3.68 $3.68

-76.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 BTN 83.0

$4.66 $4.66

-78.97%

Eggs

$1.61 BTN 136

$4.20 $4.20

-61.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.40 BTN 287

$12.78 $12.78

-73.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.94 BTN 333

$12.40 $12.40

-68.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.75 BTN 316

$16.90 $16.90

-77.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 BTN 210

$5.23 $5.23

-52.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 BTN 135

$1.66 $1.66

-3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 BTN 136

$4.33 $4.33

-62.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 BTN 78.4

$4.96 $4.96

-81.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 BTN 46.60

$2.82 $2.82

-80.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 BTN 62.0

$3.11 $3.11

-76.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 BTN 53.9

$2.19 $2.19

-70.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.29

$2.26 $2.26

-84.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 BTN 329

$10.35 $10.35

-62.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.89 BTN 244

$14.81 $14.81

-80.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 BTN 67.2

$2.09 $2.09

-61.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 BTN 94.1

$3.65 $3.65

-69.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 BTN 69.1

$2.38 $2.38

-65.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.17 BTN 436

$64.5 $64.5

-91.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 BTN 68.3

$3.54 $3.54

-77.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 BTN 135

$1.86 $1.86

-13.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.15 BTN 12.95

$30.34 $30.34

-99.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 BTN 66.2

$1.00 $1.00

-22.00%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

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

$15.1K BTN 1.3M

$25.9K $25.9K

-41.59%

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

$34.89 BTN 2,945

$222 $222

-84.30%

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

$36.96 BTN 3,120

$61.1 $61.1

-39.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.70 BTN 2,085

$74.7 $74.7

-66.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.04 BTN 3,971

$44.49 $44.49

5.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 BTN 504

$22.35 $22.35

-73.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 BTN 264

$15.03 $15.03

-79.17%

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

$1,431 $1,431

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$584 BTN 49.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

-97.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 BTN 1,821

$53.6 $53.6

-59.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.47 BTN 884

$43.46 $43.46

-75.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.3 BTN 4,752

$91.5 $91.5

-38.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.84 BTN 2,182

$114 $114

-77.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$123 BTN 10.4K

$1,633 $1,633

-92.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.6 BTN 7,478

$1,328 $1,328

-93.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 BTN 15.1K

$2,606 $2,606

-93.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 BTN 12.8K

$2,206 $2,206

-93.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,486 BTN 463.1K

$3,323 $3,323

65.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,690 BTN 142.7K

$2,653 $2,653

-36.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$328 BTN 27.7K

$4,306 $4,306

-92.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

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

Last update for Bhutan: September 7, 2026

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $85.0 in Bhutan vs $1,604 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $131 in Thimphu and $1,360 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $301 in Bhutan vs $4,526 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1787% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 2400% more in United States.

Public transport is 2600% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1404% higher in United States.

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 1162% 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 1162% 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.