Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Bhutan

For one person, living is cheaper in Bhutan: $545 a month against $2,889 in Dubai, rent and utilities included – about $28,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Bhutan
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,889
/mo nomad
🇧🇹 Bhutan
$545
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Dubai is 177.7% more expensive than Bhutan without rent, and 430.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dubai is 194.1% more expensive than Bhutan without rent, and 404.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.94 AED 47.54
$2.60 BTN 246
397.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.2 AED 306
$14.50 BTN 1,372
473.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.35 AED 34.32
$5.11 BTN 484
82.97%
Cappuccino
$5.88 AED 21.59
$1.26 BTN 119
366.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 AED 5.77
$0.53 BTN 50.2
196.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 AED 3.47
$0.18 BTN 17.23
422.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.44 AED 49.37
$2.62 BTN 248
412.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.57 AED 49.84
$1.61 BTN 153
742.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 AED 6.83
$0.88 BTN 83.1
111.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 AED 5.73
$1.11 BTN 105
40.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.64 AED 9.68
$0.95 BTN 90.0
177.89%
Eggs
$3.53 AED 12.96
$1.94 BTN 183
81.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 AED 47.62
$3.87 BTN 366
235.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.94 AED 36.51
$4.15 BTN 392
139.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.92 AED 47.45
$3.93 BTN 372
228.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 AED 9.36
$2.59 BTN 245
-1.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 AED 7.54
$1.76 BTN 167
16.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 AED 6.77
$1.76 BTN 167
4.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 AED 5.64
$1.03 BTN 97.2
49.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 AED 4.31
$0.72 BTN 68.5
62.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 AED 3.76
$0.89 BTN 83.9
14.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 AED 5.75
$0.67 BTN 63.0
134.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 AED 2.46
$0.31 BTN 29.22
116.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.31 AED 23.17
$4.23 BTN 400
49.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.16 AED 59.4
$2.66 BTN 252
507.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 AED 9.48
$0.91 BTN 85.7
183.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 AED 10.60
$1.08 BTN 102
167.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 AED 5.15
$0.81 BTN 76.6
72.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.4 AED 303
$5.18 BTN 490
1491.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 AED 12.07
$0.51 BTN 48.06
545.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 AED 2.40
$1.57 BTN 148
-58.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 AED 29.84
$0.14 BTN 13.02
5707.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 AED 3.68
$0.72 BTN 68.0
38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K AED 96.6K
$16.3K BTN 1.5M
61.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K AED 81.0K
$15.1K BTN 1.4M
45.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$239 AED 877
$33.20 BTN 3,142
619.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 AED 209
$36.50 BTN 3,454
55.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$93.9 AED 345
$24.23 BTN 2,293
287.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.8 AED 334
$47.50 BTN 4,494
91.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.38 AED 170
$6.19 BTN 586
649.27%
Cinema Ticket
$16.24 AED 59.6
$3.21 BTN 304
405.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$934 AED 3,429
$44.21 BTN 4,183
2011.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K AED 76.8K
$573 BTN 54.2K
3552.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7 AED 260
$49.74 BTN 4,706
42.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3 AED 225
$25.46 BTN 2,409
140.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 AED 377
$69.7 BTN 6,595
47.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 AED 426
$14.10 BTN 1,334
723.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,487 AED 9,134
$148 BTN 14.0K
1577.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,520 AED 5,581
$105 BTN 9,888
1354.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,234 AED 19.2K
$266 BTN 25.2K
1869.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,028 AED 11.1K
$227 BTN 21.5K
1231.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,982 AED 25.6K
$6,757 BTN 639.3K
3.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,433 AED 16.3K
$402 BTN 38.1K
1001.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubai
Bhutan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,553 AED 13.0K
$342 BTN 32.4K
938.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.57
0
-

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

Last update for Dubai: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bhutan: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dubai
$1.5K
Bhutan
$105 93.1% $1.4K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubai
$390
Bhutan
$94 75.9% $296
Eating Out
Dubai
$307
Bhutan
$70 77% $236
Groceries & Markets
Dubai
$297
Bhutan
$134 55.1% $164
Clothing & Footwear
Dubai
$158
Bhutan
$72 54.7% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Dubai
$123
Bhutan
$54 56.3% $69
Getting Around
Dubai
$95
Bhutan
$17 82.3% $78
Good to know
🇦🇪 Dubai
🇧🇹 Bhutan
🕒 Local time
11:00 11:00 AM
13:00 1:00 PM
2 h ahead of Dubai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,790,000
787,424
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

BTN, USD, EUR to AED – UAE Dirham Converter

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.12 AED (1 AED = 0.243 EUR).

Bhutanese Ngultrum exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 94.62 BTN (100 BTN = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 BTN (1,000 BTN = 9.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dubai Bhutan 3,430 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dubai
  • Bhutan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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