Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Caloocan Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Caloocan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $457 per month in Thimphu vs $677 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $749 per month in Thimphu vs $1,054 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,041 per month in Thimphu vs $1,432 in Caloocan, rent included.

Thimphu is about 33% cheaper than Caloocan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Thimphu and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Thimphu 66% lower, Caloocan 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 BTN 250

$3.57 ₱220

-17.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.68 BTN 1,492

$13.54 ₱834

30.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 BTN 290

$2.70 ₱166

27.04%

Cappuccino

$1.42 BTN 120

$1.18 ₱72.5

20.34%

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

$0.49 BTN 41.27

$0.47 ₱28.92

4.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 BTN 12.46

$0.41 ₱24.95

-63.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 BTN 241

$1.36 ₱83.6

109.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 BTN 192

$2.00 ₱123

13.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 BTN 67.4

$1.83 ₱113

-56.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BTN 80.3

$1.25 ₱76.9

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 57.8

$0.99 ₱60.9

-31.31%

Eggs

$2.05 BTN 173

$2.05 ₱126

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 BTN 282

$2.17 ₱134

53.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 BTN 322

$2.85 ₱176

34.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 BTN 372

$5.65 ₱348

-21.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 BTN 211

$2.05 ₱126

21.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 BTN 123

$1.09 ₱67.1

33.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 BTN 160

$2.33 ₱143

-18.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 BTN 65.0

$1.22 ₱75.0

-36.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 BTN 42.01

$1.22 ₱75.4

-59.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 BTN 48.64

$2.26 ₱139

-74.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 BTN 38.59

$0.73 ₱45.10

-36.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.92

$0.54 ₱33.04

-37.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.71 BTN 313

$3.22 ₱198

15.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.23 BTN 273

$4.83 ₱297

-33.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 53.0

$1.02 ₱62.8

-38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BTN 91.0

$2.25 ₱139

-52.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 BTN 150

$0.20 ₱12.28

790.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.07 BTN 343

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 BTN 74.5

$0.77 ₱47.52

14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 BTN 198

$0.24 ₱14.85

875.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.17 BTN 14.64

$2.36 ₱145

-92.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 BTN 77.1

$1.15 ₱70.7

-20.87%

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

$32.2K ₱2.0M

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

$20.6K ₱1.3M

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

$23.57 BTN 1,989

$59.4 ₱3,659

-60.35%

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

$38.26 BTN 3,229

$10.76 ₱662

255.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 BTN 2,254

$25.89 ₱1,594

3.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.96 BTN 4,133

$5.22 ₱321

837.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 BTN 649

$4.48 ₱276

71.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 BTN 302

$5.66 ₱348

-36.75%

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

$241 BTN 20.3K

$154 ₱9,461

56.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 BTN 55.7K

$4,722 ₱290.7K

-86.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.14 BTN 772

$47.87 ₱2,947

-80.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.54 BTN 974

$27.13 ₱1,670

-57.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.39 BTN 2,734

$53.6 ₱3,302

-39.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.64 BTN 2,671

$46.62 ₱2,870

-32.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 BTN 9,634

$295 ₱18.2K

-61.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.9 BTN 5,224

$261 ₱16.1K

-76.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 BTN 16.7K

$591 ₱36.4K

-66.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

$528 ₱32.5K

-73.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,611 BTN 558.1K

$2,739 ₱168.6K

141.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 BTN 33.0K

$894 ₱55.1K

-56.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 BTN 29.7K

$272 ₱16.7K

29.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.75

4.5

138.89%

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

Last update for Thimphu: July 12, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Thimphu versus $295 in Caloocan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 30% higher in Thimphu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Thimphu versus $14.00 in Caloocan. Groceries tell a different story – $124 in Thimphu vs $150 in Caloocan – so Thimphu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Thimphu vs Caloocan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Caloocan costs about 48% more than Thimphu, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Thimphu and $1,015 in Caloocan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thimphu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Thimphu and $14.00 in Caloocan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Caloocan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $457 in Thimphu and $677 in Caloocan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Thimphu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Thimphu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caloocan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.