Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Bhutan

Name: Bhutan
Address: BT

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $502 in Bhutan, rent and utilities included – about $230 less a year. The total is higher in Bhutan despite lower rent and utilities.

23

Cost of Living Index in Pakistan
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Pakistan Living Index
24

Cost of Living Index in Bhutan
Learn more

Bhutan Living Index

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🇵🇰 Pakistan

$483

/mo nomad

🇧🇹 Bhutan

$502

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakistan and in Bhutan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Bhutan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $483 per month in Pakistan vs $502 in Bhutan, rent included.

Pakistan $483
Bhutan $502

A couple spends around $736 per month in Pakistan vs $778 in Bhutan, rent included.

Pakistan $736
Bhutan $778

A family of three spends $988 per month in Pakistan vs $1,053 in Bhutan, rent included.

Pakistan $988
Bhutan $1,053

The regional cost range is wider in Bhutan ($103–$522) than in Pakistan ($291–$607), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Pakistan is roughly 4% lower than in Bhutan on average.

Both Pakistan and Bhutan are more affordable than the global median – Pakistan 65% lower, Bhutan 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 PKR 582

$2.65 BTN 253

-20.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.97 PKR 3,863

$14.13 BTN 1,346

-1.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 PKR 1,522

$5.01 BTN 477

9.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PKR 615

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PKR 1,192

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 545

$1.29 BTN 123

52.71%

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

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.48 BTN 46.17

-20.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.6

$0.16 BTN 15.48

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BTN 244

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 BTN 155

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PKR 239

$0.78 BTN 74.0

11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 164

$0.84 BTN 80.2

-28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 334

$0.99 BTN 94.1

22.22%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 333

$1.56 BTN 149

-22.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.42 PKR 1,499

$3.33 BTN 318

62.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 782

$3.71 BTN 354

-23.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.06 PKR 1,399

$3.91 BTN 373

29.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 331

$2.44 BTN 232

-50.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 176

$1.57 BTN 150

-59.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 PKR 241

$1.59 BTN 152

-45.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 148

$0.92 BTN 87.6

-41.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 91.7

$0.61 BTN 58.0

-45.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.69 BTN 65.6

-43.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 PKR 104

$0.64 BTN 60.9

-42.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.33 BTN 31.73

24.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.08 PKR 574

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 PKR 296

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 593

$3.88 BTN 369

-44.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.91 BTN 277

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BTN 80.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 BTN 102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.0

$0.82 BTN 78.2

-75.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.01 PKR 2,766

$5.12 BTN 488

95.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 PKR 243

$0.83 BTN 78.8

6.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 PKR 155

$1.54 BTN 146

-63.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 PKR 613

$0.14 BTN 13.61

1485.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 PKR 357

$0.77 BTN 73.2

67.53%

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

$17.8K PKR 4.9M

$16.4K BTN 1.6M

8.07%

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

$24.3K PKR 6.7M

$15.2K BTN 1.4M

60.31%

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

$110 PKR 30.5K

$34.15 BTN 3,254

222.96%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,494

$36.40 BTN 3,469

-85.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.79 PKR 4,365

$24.12 BTN 2,299

-34.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.50 PKR 5,114

$46.93 BTN 4,472

-60.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.09 PKR 3,064

$6.19 BTN 590

79.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.32 PKR 1,194

$3.16 BTN 301

36.71%

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

$56.4 PKR 15.6K

$44.49 BTN 4,240

26.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,511 PKR 417.8K

$588 BTN 56.0K

157.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.56 PKR 4,855

$35.65 BTN 3,397

-50.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.58 PKR 6,517

$17.58 BTN 1,675

34.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 PKR 21.2K

$54.7 BTN 5,211

40.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.08 PKR 9,697

$25.70 BTN 2,449

36.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 PKR 41.5K

$120 BTN 11.4K

25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.4 PKR 24.2K

$85.6 BTN 8,152

2.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 PKR 88.6K

$180 BTN 17.1K

78.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 PKR 52.5K

$150 BTN 14.3K

26.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$970 PKR 268.2K

$5,519 BTN 525.9K

-82.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 PKR 143.9K

$1,676 BTN 159.7K

-68.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 PKR 53.1K

$322 BTN 30.7K

-40.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.1

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

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bhutan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pakistan

$131 27.2%

Bhutan

$95 18.9% 28% $37

Groceries & Markets

Pakistan

$94 19.5%

Bhutan

$121 24.1% 28.9% $27

Accommodation & Living

Pakistan

$87 18.1%

Bhutan

$86 17% 2.1% $1.8

Clothing & Footwear

Pakistan

$69 14.3%

Bhutan

$60 12% 12.6% $8.7

Eating Out

Pakistan

$59 12.3%

Bhutan

$70 14% 18.3% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Pakistan

$27 5.6%

Bhutan

$53 10.6% 96.2% $26

Getting Around

Pakistan

$14 3%

Bhutan

$17 3.4% 16.8% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $137 in Pakistan vs $142 in Bhutan. For reference, capital cities sit at $261 in Islamabad and $128 in Thimphu.

Average salary: $185 in Pakistan vs $295 in Bhutan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 59% higher in Bhutan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Bhutan.

Good to know

🇵🇰 Pakistan

🇧🇹 Bhutan

🕒 Local time

08:19 8:19 AM

09:19 9:19 AM

1 h ahead of Pakistan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

223,773,700

787,424

💱 Currency

Pakistani Rupee PKR ₨

Bhutanese Ngultrum BTN Nu.

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD

1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR

1,000 BTN = 10.49 USD

1,000 BTN = 9.37 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BTN, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇰 Pakistani Rupee (₨)

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 276 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 310 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.23 EUR).

Bhutanese Ngultrum exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 95.29 BTN (100 BTN = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 BTN (1,000 BTN = 9.37 EUR).

USD to PKR in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Pakistan Bhutan 1,730 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Pakistan
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.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Pakistan vs Bhutan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pakistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 4% lower on average.

Housing costs more in Bhutan: a central one-bedroom averages $142 versus $137 in Pakistan.

Pakistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.