Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Giza Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Giza

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $494 in Thimphu versus $476 in Giza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $752 in Thimphu versus $741 in Giza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,010 in Thimphu versus $1,006 in Giza.

Living in Thimphu is roughly 4% more expensive than in Giza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Thimphu 64% lower, Giza 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 BTN 217

$4.13 E£211

-37.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.32 BTN 1,209

$14.50 E£739

-1.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.74 BTN 315

$4.85 E£247

-22.89%

Cappuccino

$1.41 BTN 119

$1.27 E£64.9

11.02%

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

$0.49 BTN 41.16

$0.39 E£19.68

25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 BTN 17.16

$0.13 E£6.59

53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 BTN 216

$1.50 E£76.8

70.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 BTN 173

$2.97 E£151

-30.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 BTN 70.4

$0.86 E£43.67

-3.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BTN 89.5

$0.35 E£18.03

202.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 BTN 86.7

$0.70 E£35.74

47.14%

Eggs

$1.89 BTN 159

$1.46 E£74.7

29.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.73 BTN 315

$2.55 E£130

46.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 BTN 332

$3.86 E£197

1.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.92 BTN 331

$8.47 E£432

-53.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 BTN 223

$1.60 E£81.6

65.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 BTN 132

$0.62 E£31.77

153.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 BTN 134

$0.44 E£22.61

259.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 BTN 64.4

$0.36 E£18.42

111.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 BTN 50.5

$0.45 E£23.04

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 BTN 60.4

$0.50 E£25.61

44.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 BTN 31.39

$0.25 E£12.78

48.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 BTN 24.30

$0.22 E£11.23

31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 BTN 330

$2.04 E£104

91.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.87 BTN 243

$4.81 E£245

-40.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 52.8

$1.45 E£73.7

-56.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 BTN 117

$1.69 E£86.1

-17.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 BTN 63.9

$0.30 E£15.19

153.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.39 BTN 455

$8.92 E£455

-39.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 BTN 67.7

$0.43 E£21.70

86.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 BTN 135

$0.36 E£18.59

344.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.18 BTN 15.19

$2.02 E£103

-91.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BTN 65.2

$0.46 E£23.65

67.39%

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

$33.5K E£1.7M

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

$15.4K BTN 1.3M

$28.4K E£1.4M

-45.70%

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

$34.71 BTN 2,930

$17.26 E£880

101.10%

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

$37.08 BTN 3,130

$7.72 E£394

380.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.32 BTN 2,053

$19.78 E£1,009

22.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.53 BTN 4,012

$22.11 E£1,128

114.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.72 BTN 652

$7.17 E£366

7.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.23 BTN 272

$4.36 E£223

-25.92%

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

$95.9 E£4,891

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$569 BTN 48.0K

$2,493 E£127.2K

-77.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.03 E£869

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 E£3,099

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 BTN 5,814

$84.5 E£4,310

-18.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.47 BTN 1,222

$49.81 E£2,540

-70.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 BTN 10.9K

$145 E£7,406

-11.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.3 BTN 7,284

$93.4 E£4,765

-7.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 BTN 16.2K

$370 E£18.8K

-48.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 BTN 13.3K

$156 E£7,974

1.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,696 BTN 565.2K

$815 E£41.6K

721.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$403 BTN 34.0K

$1,253 E£63.9K

-67.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 BTN 29.9K

$129 E£6,600

173.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Thimphu: September 1, 2026

Last update for Giza: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $129 in Thimphu and $145 in Giza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thimphu pays 174% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Thimphu vs $14.00 in Giza. Groceries flip the comparison at $126 vs $115, with Giza cheaper for home cooking.

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 Giza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Giza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 174% higher in Thimphu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $129 in Thimphu versus $145 in Giza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Thimphu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $494 per month in Thimphu versus $476 in Giza – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Giza gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Thimphu and Giza are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Giza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Thimphu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.