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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in Caloocan vs $457 in Thimphu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,054 per month in Caloocan vs $749 in Thimphu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,432 per month in Caloocan vs $1,041 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 49% lower, Thimphu 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 ₱220

$2.96 BTN 250

20.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.54 ₱835

$17.68 BTN 1,492

-23.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.70 ₱167

$3.43 BTN 290

-21.28%

Cappuccino

$1.18 ₱72.6

$1.42 BTN 120

-16.90%

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

$0.47 ₱28.97

$0.49 BTN 41.27

-4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₱24.99

$0.15 BTN 12.46

173.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₱83.7

$2.85 BTN 241

-52.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱123

$2.27 BTN 192

-11.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱113

$0.80 BTN 67.4

128.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱77.1

$0.95 BTN 80.3

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₱61.0

$0.68 BTN 57.8

45.59%

Eggs

$2.05 ₱127

$2.05 BTN 173

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.17 ₱134

$3.34 BTN 282

-35.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.85 ₱176

$3.82 BTN 322

-25.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.65 ₱349

$4.41 BTN 372

28.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₱127

$2.50 BTN 211

-18.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.2

$1.46 BTN 123

-25.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ₱143

$1.89 BTN 160

23.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.1

$0.77 BTN 65.0

58.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.5

$0.50 BTN 42.01

144.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 ₱140

$0.58 BTN 48.64

289.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ₱45.18

$0.46 BTN 38.59

58.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₱33.09

$0.34 BTN 28.92

58.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ₱199

$3.71 BTN 313

-13.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.83 ₱298

$3.23 BTN 273

49.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.9

$0.63 BTN 53.0

61.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.08 BTN 91.0

108.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₱12.31

$1.78 BTN 150

-88.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.07 BTN 343

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.60

$0.88 BTN 74.5

-12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.88

$2.34 BTN 198

-89.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 ₱145

$0.17 BTN 14.64

1288.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ₱70.8

$0.91 BTN 77.1

26.37%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

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

$59.4 ₱3,666

$23.57 BTN 1,989

152.18%

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

$10.76 ₱664

$38.26 BTN 3,229

-71.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.89 ₱1,597

$26.70 BTN 2,254

-3.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.22 ₱322

$48.96 BTN 4,133

-89.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.48 ₱277

$7.69 BTN 649

-41.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.66 ₱349

$3.58 BTN 302

58.10%

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

$154 ₱9,477

$241 BTN 20.3K

-36.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,722 ₱291.2K

$660 BTN 55.7K

615.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.87 ₱2,952

$9.14 BTN 772

423.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.13 ₱1,673

$11.54 BTN 974

135.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 ₱3,308

$32.39 BTN 2,734

65.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.62 ₱2,875

$31.64 BTN 2,671

47.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 ₱18.2K

$114 BTN 9,634

158.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 ₱16.1K

$61.9 BTN 5,224

321.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₱36.4K

$198 BTN 16.7K

198.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ₱32.6K

$139 BTN 11.7K

279.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,739 ₱168.9K

$6,611 BTN 558.1K

-58.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$894 ₱55.1K

$391 BTN 33.0K

128.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$272 ₱16.7K

$352 BTN 29.7K

-22.88%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $295 in Caloocan versus $114 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 30% 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 $14.00 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 $1,015 per month in Caloocan and $685 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 $14.00 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 $677 in Caloocan and $457 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.