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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $494 per month in Thimphu vs $598 in Caloocan, rent included.

A couple spends around $752 per month in Thimphu vs $915 in Caloocan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,010 per month in Thimphu vs $1,232 in Caloocan, rent included.

Thimphu is about 17% cheaper than Caloocan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Thimphu and Caloocan are more affordable than the global median – Thimphu 64% lower, Caloocan 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 BTN 217

$2.45 ₱153

5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 BTN 1,209

$17.15 ₱1,073

-16.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.74 BTN 315

$2.30 ₱144

62.61%

Cappuccino

$1.41 BTN 119

$0.86 ₱53.9

63.95%

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

$0.49 BTN 41.16

$0.43 ₱26.75

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 BTN 17.16

$0.32 ₱19.95

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BTN 216

$0.98 ₱61.1

161.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 BTN 173

$1.64 ₱102

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 BTN 70.4

$1.63 ₱102

-49.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BTN 89.5

$1.16 ₱72.4

-8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 BTN 86.7

$0.88 ₱55.3

17.05%

Eggs

$1.89 BTN 159

$1.81 ₱113

4.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.73 BTN 315

$1.97 ₱123

89.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 BTN 332

$2.60 ₱163

51.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.92 BTN 331

$4.98 ₱311

-21.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 BTN 223

$1.89 ₱118

39.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 BTN 132

$0.99 ₱61.8

58.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 BTN 134

$2.10 ₱132

-24.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 BTN 64.4

$1.03 ₱64.7

-26.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 BTN 50.5

$1.15 ₱72.1

-47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 BTN 60.4

$1.71 ₱107

-57.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 BTN 31.39

$0.62 ₱38.67

-40.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 BTN 24.30

$0.49 ₱30.42

-40.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 BTN 330

$3.00 ₱188

30.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.87 BTN 243

$4.72 ₱295

-39.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 52.8

$0.90 ₱56.3

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BTN 117

$2.08 ₱130

-33.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 BTN 63.9

$0.17 ₱10.56

347.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.39 BTN 455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 BTN 67.7

$0.74 ₱46.31

8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 BTN 135

$0.23 ₱14.34

595.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.18 BTN 15.19

$1.97 ₱123

-90.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BTN 65.2

$0.92 ₱57.4

-16.30%

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

$21.7K ₱1.4M

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

$15.4K BTN 1.3M

$19.0K ₱1.2M

-18.95%

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

$34.71 BTN 2,930

$53.7 ₱3,357

-35.35%

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

$37.08 BTN 3,130

$9.65 ₱603

284.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.32 BTN 2,053

$23.32 ₱1,458

4.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.53 BTN 4,012

$4.78 ₱299

894.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.72 BTN 652

Cinema Ticket

$3.23 BTN 272

$5.36 ₱335

-39.74%

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

$133 ₱8,324

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$569 BTN 48.0K

$10.6K ₱665.9K

-94.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.86 ₱1,805

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 ₱1,214

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 BTN 5,814

$49.13 ₱3,072

40.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.47 BTN 1,222

$44.20 ₱2,764

-67.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 BTN 10.9K

$273 ₱17.1K

-52.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.3 BTN 7,284

$236 ₱14.8K

-63.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 BTN 16.2K

$527 ₱32.9K

-63.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 BTN 13.3K

$490 ₱30.6K

-67.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,696 BTN 565.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$403 BTN 34.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 BTN 29.9K

$273 ₱17.1K

29.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

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

Last update for Thimphu: September 1, 2026

Last update for Caloocan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $129 in Thimphu versus $273 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 $14.00 in Thimphu versus $17.00 in Caloocan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $126 vs $135 – making Thimphu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 21% more than Thimphu, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $741 per month in Thimphu and $896 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $494 in Thimphu and $598 in Caloocan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 7% 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 $494 in Thimphu and $598 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.