Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Bhutan Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Bhutan

Name: Bhutan
Address: BT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Pakistan vs $176 in Bhutan, rent included.

A couple spends around $678 per month in Pakistan vs $284 in Bhutan, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Pakistan vs $391 in Bhutan, rent included.

The cost of living in Pakistan is about 156% higher than in Bhutan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Pakistan and Bhutan are more affordable than the global median – Pakistan 67% lower, Bhutan 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 PKR 581

$2.63 BTN 222

-20.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.51 PKR 4,021

$14.18 BTN 1,197

2.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.53 PKR 1,533

$3.61 BTN 305

53.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 PKR 594

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 PKR 1,120

Cappuccino

$2.04 PKR 564

$1.34 BTN 113

52.24%

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

$0.38 PKR 105

$0.53 BTN 44.87

-28.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 66.7

$0.18 BTN 15.36

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 BTN 227

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 BTN 174

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 PKR 235

$0.85 BTN 72.0

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 PKR 174

$0.85 BTN 71.8

-25.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PKR 339

$0.98 BTN 83.0

24.49%

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.61 BTN 136

-24.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.79 PKR 1,603

$3.40 BTN 287

70.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 PKR 803

$3.94 BTN 333

-26.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.08 PKR 1,407

$3.75 BTN 316

35.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PKR 313

$2.49 BTN 210

-54.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 191

$1.60 BTN 135

-56.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$1.61 BTN 136

-47.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.93 BTN 78.4

-38.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 PKR 95.0

$0.55 BTN 46.60

-38.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 PKR 116

$0.73 BTN 62.0

-42.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 95.1

$0.64 BTN 53.9

-46.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$0.34 BTN 28.29

20.59%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.04 PKR 566

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 299

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PKR 644

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 594

$3.90 BTN 329

-45.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.89 BTN 244

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 BTN 67.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 BTN 94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 PKR 48.48

$0.82 BTN 69.1

-78.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.87 PKR 2,736

$5.17 BTN 436

90.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 PKR 252

$0.81 BTN 68.3

12.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PKR 144

$1.60 BTN 135

-67.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 PKR 601

$0.15 BTN 12.95

1346.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 PKR 337

$0.78 BTN 66.2

56.41%

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

$18.3K PKR 5.1M

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

$25.4K PKR 7.0M

$15.1K BTN 1.3M

68.42%

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

$108 PKR 30.0K

$34.89 BTN 2,945

210.49%

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

$5.35 PKR 1,481

$36.96 BTN 3,120

-85.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.67 PKR 4,340

$24.70 BTN 2,085

-36.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.93 PKR 4,412

$47.04 BTN 3,971

-66.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.70 PKR 2,964

$5.97 BTN 504

79.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 PKR 1,222

$3.13 BTN 264

40.89%

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

$42.68 PKR 11.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,343 PKR 372.0K

$584 BTN 49.3K

129.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.94 PKR 4,417

$21.57 BTN 1,821

-26.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.78 PKR 6,589

$10.47 BTN 884

127.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 PKR 21.8K

$56.3 BTN 4,752

39.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.79 PKR 9,361

$25.84 BTN 2,182

30.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 PKR 37.1K

$123 BTN 10.4K

8.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.9 PKR 21.6K

$88.6 BTN 7,478

-12.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PKR 85.5K

$179 BTN 15.1K

72.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 PKR 47.7K

$151 BTN 12.8K

14.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,017 PKR 281.8K

$5,486 BTN 463.1K

-81.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$522 PKR 144.5K

$1,690 BTN 142.7K

-69.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$185 PKR 51.2K

$328 BTN 27.7K

-43.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.96

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

Last update for Pakistan: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bhutan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $122 in Pakistan vs $85.0 in Bhutan. For reference, capital cities sit at $270 in Islamabad and $131 in Thimphu.

Average salary: $181 in Pakistan vs $301 in Bhutan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 44% higher in Pakistan.

Dining out costs 333% more in Pakistan.

Public transport is 800% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 66% higher in Bhutan, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Bhutan.

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

Bhutan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 81% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Pakistan, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Pakistan consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Bhutan, contributing to the overall 81% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Bhutan, but in Pakistan it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Bhutan is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.