Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Bhutan Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Bhutan

😐 Solo nomad: China is 21.3% more expensive than Bhutan without rent, and 63.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: China is 25.4% more expensive than Bhutan without rent, and 65.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Bhutan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$2.89 BTN 244
-1.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$17.66 BTN 1,490
35.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$3.59 BTN 303
38.16%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$1.4 BTN 118
123.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.49 BTN 41.33
-10.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.18 BTN 14.92
61.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$2.94 BTN 248
-67.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$2.3 BTN 194
-6.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Bhutan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$0.86 BTN 72.7
115.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$0.8 BTN 67.7
110.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$0.71 BTN 60.3
33.80%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$1.94 BTN 164
-20.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$3.35 BTN 283
295.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$3.59 BTN 303
-8.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$4.19 BTN 354
158.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.8 BTN 236
-36.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.66 BTN 140
-24.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.04 BTN 172
-26.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$0.92 BTN 78
29.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$0.54 BTN 45.72
38.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$0.71 BTN 60.2
21.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$0.39 BTN 33.16
56.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.4 BTN 34.12
45.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$3.68 BTN 311
-6.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$3.44 BTN 290
228.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$0.74 BTN 62.6
13.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$1.18 BTN 99.9
42.37%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Bhutan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$2.01 BTN 170
-80.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$4.06 BTN 343
413.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$0.89 BTN 74.8
52.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$2.26 BTN 191
-84.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$0.15 BTN 12.49
4433.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$0.89 BTN 74.8
25.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$19K BTN 1.6M
1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$24.9K BTN 2.1M
-32.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Bhutan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$23.26 BTN 1,963
121.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$37.12 BTN 3,133
-73.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$22.22 BTN 1,876
-48.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Bhutan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$49.06 BTN 4,142
-19.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$6.28 BTN 530
137.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$3.56 BTN 301
75.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Bhutan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$241 BTN 20.4K
72.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$664 BTN 56.1K
2560.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Bhutan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$20.2 BTN 1,705
125.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$11.81 BTN 997
183.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$49.48 BTN 4,177
45.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$38.79 BTN 3,275
87.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Bhutan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$106 BTN 8,923
321.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$68.1 BTN 5,748
274.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$172 BTN 14.5K
431.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$141 BTN 11.9K
284.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$1,527 BTN 128.9K
302.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$1,619 BTN 136.6K
76.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Bhutan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$566 BTN 47.8K
66.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
10.75
-62.23%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Bhutan: October 28, 2025

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