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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $392 per month in Pakistan vs $204 in Bhutan, rent included.

A couple spends around $591 per month in Pakistan vs $314 in Bhutan, rent included.

A family of three spends $790 per month in Pakistan vs $424 in Bhutan, rent included.

Pakistan costs about 92% more than Bhutan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Pakistan and Bhutan are more affordable than the global median – Pakistan 71% lower, Bhutan 85% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82 PKR 506
$2.95 BTN 249
-38.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.25 PKR 3,409
$17.23 BTN 1,454
-28.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.27 PKR 1,188
$3.44 BTN 290
24.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 PKR 500
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 PKR 1,136
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.77 PKR 493
$1.45 BTN 123
22.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 93.3
$0.48 BTN 40.47
-29.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.2
$0.16 BTN 13.43
43.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.98 BTN 252
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.31 BTN 195
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 PKR 214
$0.87 BTN 73.5
-11.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 155
$0.85 BTN 71.8
-34.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 340
$0.67 BTN 56.9
82.09%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 337
$1.96 BTN 165
-38.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.68 PKR 1,579
$3.18 BTN 269
78.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 PKR 835
$3.66 BTN 309
-18.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.29 PKR 1,193
$4.23 BTN 357
1.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 284
$2.77 BTN 234
-63.18%
Banana (1kg)
$0.62 PKR 174
$1.75 BTN 148
-64.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 PKR 213
$2.12 BTN 179
-63.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 138
$0.92 BTN 78.0
-46.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$0.51 BTN 43.33
-31.37%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$0.71 BTN 60.0
-32.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 106
$0.40 BTN 33.57
-5.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 99.7
$0.41 BTN 34.50
-12.20%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.91 PKR 532
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 PKR 304
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 PKR 557
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 PKR 546
$3.80 BTN 321
-48.42%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$3.25 BTN 274
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 BTN 62.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 BTN 100
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 PKR 42.98
$1.99 BTN 168
-92.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.14 PKR 1,987
$4.10 BTN 347
74.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 237
$0.91 BTN 76.4
-6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 PKR 143
$2.26 BTN 191
-77.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 PKR 503
$0.15 BTN 12.69
1106.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 PKR 249
$0.95 BTN 80.3
-5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
$19.3K BTN 1.6M
-9.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
$24.7K BTN 2.1M
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 PKR 30.7K
$22.67 BTN 1,914
386.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.72 PKR 1,313
$37.55 BTN 3,170
-87.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.34 PKR 4,268
$22.97 BTN 1,939
-33.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.40 PKR 3,728
$48.34 BTN 4,081
-72.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.53 PKR 2,374
$6.29 BTN 531
35.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.31 PKR 1,199
$3.53 BTN 298
22.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.86 PKR 10.8K
$242 BTN 20.4K
-83.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,143 PKR 318.1K
$680 BTN 57.4K
68.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.81 PKR 4,398
$20.29 BTN 1,713
-22.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.47 PKR 6,529
$11.58 BTN 978
102.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.0 PKR 20.0K
$48.51 BTN 4,095
48.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.27 PKR 9,255
$39.46 BTN 3,331
-15.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 30.9K
$105 BTN 8,854
5.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$67.3 PKR 18.7K
$68.9 BTN 5,815
-2.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 PKR 75.7K
$176 BTN 14.9K
54.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 PKR 46.5K
$141 BTN 11.9K
18.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$983 PKR 273.4K
$5,532 BTN 466.9K
-82.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$519 PKR 144.4K
$1,689 BTN 142.5K
-69.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Bhutan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 PKR 51.5K
$423 BTN 35.7K
-56.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.97
10.75
76.47%

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

Last update for Pakistan: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bhutan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $78.0 in Pakistan vs $85.0 in Bhutan. For reference, capital cities sit at $198 in Islamabad and $118 in Thimphu.

Average salary: $187 in Pakistan vs $393 in Bhutan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 9% higher in Bhutan.

Dining out costs 175% more in Pakistan.

Public transport is 600% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 110% higher in Bhutan, giving Bhutan stronger purchasing power.

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
Is Bhutan more expensive than Pakistan?
Bhutan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 79% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Pakistan, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Pakistan consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Bhutan, contributing to the overall 79% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Bhutan or Pakistan?
$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.
Should I move to Bhutan or Pakistan?
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.

Pakistan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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