Cost of Living Comparison Between Caloocan and Thimphu Cost of Living Comparison Between Caloocan and Thimphu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $671 per month in Caloocan vs $455 in Thimphu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,049 per month in Caloocan vs $757 in Thimphu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,427 per month in Caloocan vs $1,059 in Thimphu, rent included.

Caloocan costs about 48% more than Thimphu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Caloocan and Thimphu are more affordable than the global median – Caloocan 50% lower, Thimphu 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₱216

$2.93 BTN 248

19.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.41 ₱827

$17.63 BTN 1,488

-23.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.62 ₱162

$3.47 BTN 293

-24.50%

Cappuccino

$1.14 ₱70.1

$1.48 BTN 125

-22.97%

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

$0.47 ₱28.69

$0.48 BTN 40.91

-2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱23.36

$0.17 BTN 14.15

123.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱83.9

$2.98 BTN 252

-54.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.30 BTN 194

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱114

$0.87 BTN 73.1

112.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$0.95 BTN 79.8

25.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱61.4

$0.74 BTN 62.5

35.14%

Eggs

$1.95 ₱120

$2.00 BTN 169

-2.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.16 ₱133

$3.24 BTN 273

-33.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.80 ₱173

$3.77 BTN 319

-25.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 ₱358

$4.25 BTN 359

36.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₱122

$2.54 BTN 215

-22.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ₱70.9

$1.52 BTN 128

-24.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₱145

$1.86 BTN 157

26.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.3

$0.73 BTN 61.7

67.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 ₱77.6

$0.54 BTN 45.20

133.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 ₱141

$0.62 BTN 52.0

269.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.04

$0.46 BTN 38.43

47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.18

$0.34 BTN 28.88

58.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ₱206

$3.76 BTN 317

-11.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 ₱304

$3.19 BTN 270

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱63.2

$0.64 BTN 53.8

59.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₱141

$1.04 BTN 87.4

120.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₱12.32

$1.71 BTN 144

-88.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.10 BTN 346

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.9

$0.85 BTN 71.6

-2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.56

$2.23 BTN 188

-90.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱151

$0.19 BTN 15.82

1184.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ₱70.5

$0.97 BTN 82.2

17.53%

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

$31.6K ₱1.9M

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

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

$59.5 ₱3,666

$23.29 BTN 1,966

155.30%

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

$10.46 ₱645

$38.02 BTN 3,209

-72.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.65 ₱1,643

$27.34 BTN 2,308

-2.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.23 ₱323

$48.52 BTN 4,096

-89.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.56 ₱281

$7.60 BTN 642

-40.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ₱353

$3.43 BTN 290

66.76%

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

$154 ₱9,480

$242 BTN 20.4K

-36.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,733 ₱291.9K

$681 BTN 57.4K

595.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 ₱3,046

$9.13 BTN 771

441.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.65 ₱1,705

$11.81 BTN 997

134.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 ₱3,346

$31.80 BTN 2,685

70.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.58 ₱2,872

$31.61 BTN 2,668

47.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 ₱17.9K

$118 BTN 9,925

146.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ₱16.3K

$63.5 BTN 5,363

316.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₱36.7K

$203 BTN 17.1K

193.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₱32.4K

$139 BTN 11.7K

278.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,301 ₱141.9K

$6,698 BTN 565.4K

-65.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,088 ₱67.1K

$390 BTN 33.0K

178.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 ₱17.0K

$349 BTN 29.4K

-20.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

10.75

-58.14%

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

Last update for Caloocan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Caloocan versus $118 in Thimphu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Thimphu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Caloocan versus $18.00 in Thimphu. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Caloocan vs $124 in Thimphu – so Thimphu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Caloocan vs Thimphu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Caloocan costs about 48% more than Thimphu, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,007 per month in Caloocan and $682 in Thimphu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thimphu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Caloocan and $18.00 in Thimphu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Caloocan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $671 in Caloocan and $455 in Thimphu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Thimphu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Thimphu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caloocan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.