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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $586 per month in Caloocan vs $523 in Thimphu, rent included.

A couple spends around $916 per month in Caloocan vs $802 in Thimphu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,247 per month in Caloocan vs $1,082 in Thimphu, rent included.

Caloocan costs about 12% more than Thimphu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Caloocan and Thimphu are more affordable than the global median – Caloocan 57% lower, Thimphu 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 ₱151

$2.60 BTN 220

-7.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.60 ₱1,041

$14.08 BTN 1,189

17.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.27 ₱142

$3.65 BTN 308

-37.81%

Cappuccino

$0.94 ₱59.2

$1.34 BTN 113

-29.85%

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

$0.43 ₱26.89

$0.53 BTN 44.35

-18.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₱19.15

$0.17 BTN 14.38

82.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₱59.0

$2.55 BTN 216

-63.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₱101

$2.16 BTN 183

-25.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ₱101

$0.84 BTN 71.0

91.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.1

$1.06 BTN 89.5

8.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ₱58.2

$1.01 BTN 85.3

-7.92%

Eggs

$1.77 ₱111

$1.95 BTN 165

-9.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.86 ₱117

$3.84 BTN 324

-51.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 ₱161

$4.13 BTN 348

-37.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.14 ₱322

$4.07 BTN 343

26.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ₱115

$2.58 BTN 218

-28.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.3

$1.52 BTN 129

-32.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 ₱128

$1.66 BTN 140

22.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₱67.3

$0.79 BTN 66.5

35.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱70.8

$0.57 BTN 48.00

98.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 ₱107

$0.66 BTN 55.4

159.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱42.10

$0.36 BTN 30.69

86.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₱32.38

$0.31 BTN 26.37

67.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₱179

$3.83 BTN 324

-25.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.64 ₱291

$2.80 BTN 236

65.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₱60.3

$0.64 BTN 53.7

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.40 BTN 118

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.65

$0.78 BTN 65.4

-71.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.10 BTN 431

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₱46.95

$0.81 BTN 68.3

-7.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.40

$1.61 BTN 136

-85.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₱118

$0.16 BTN 13.42

1075.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 ₱56.6

$0.77 BTN 64.8

16.88%

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

$21.6K ₱1.4M

$16.6K BTN 1.4M

29.87%

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

$19.1K ₱1.2M

$15.4K BTN 1.3M

23.67%

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

$53.0 ₱3,321

$35.36 BTN 2,985

49.75%

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

$9.76 ₱612

$36.45 BTN 3,077

-73.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.11 ₱1,449

$24.89 BTN 2,101

-7.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.83 ₱303

$47.12 BTN 3,978

-89.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.70 BTN 650

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ₱315

$3.13 BTN 264

60.38%

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

$132 ₱8,289

$45.00 BTN 3,799

193.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K ₱661.4K

$578 BTN 48.8K

1725.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.19 ₱1,831

$49.28 BTN 4,160

-40.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.37 ₱1,215

$24.81 BTN 2,094

-21.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.35 ₱3,095

$69.0 BTN 5,827

-28.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.84 ₱2,687

$14.21 BTN 1,200

201.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.7K

$129 BTN 10.9K

106.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ₱14.8K

$86.4 BTN 7,290

172.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₱33.0K

$194 BTN 16.4K

170.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 ₱29.4K

$157 BTN 13.3K

197.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,694 BTN 565.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$387 BTN 32.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 ₱16.8K

$350 BTN 29.5K

-23.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Caloocan: September 12, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Caloocan versus $129 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 31% 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 $17.00 in Caloocan versus $14.00 in Thimphu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $128 – making Thimphu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 12% more than Thimphu, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $878 per month in Caloocan and $785 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 $17.00 in Caloocan and $14.00 in Thimphu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $586 in Caloocan and $523 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.