Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Thimphu: $510 a month against $1,526 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

25

Cost of Living Index in Thimphu
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Thimphu Living Index
74

Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more

Istanbul Living Index

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Thimphu

🇧🇹 Bhutan

$510

/mo nomad

Istanbul

🇹🇷 Turkey

$1,526

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Thimphu and in Istanbul

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Thimphu and in Istanbul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $510 per month in Thimphu vs $1,526 in Istanbul, rent included.

Thimphu $510
Istanbul $1,526

A couple spends around $799 per month in Thimphu vs $2,399 in Istanbul, rent included.

Thimphu $799
Istanbul $2,399

A family of three spends $1,088 per month in Thimphu vs $3,272 in Istanbul, rent included.

Thimphu $1,088
Istanbul $3,272

Thimphu is about 67% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Thimphu sits 62% below the global median, while Istanbul is 14% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 BTN 248

$11.88 ₺585

-78.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.16 BTN 1,372

$55.1 ₺2,714

-74.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 BTN 474

$9.14 ₺450

-46.50%

Cappuccino

$1.31 BTN 127

$4.24 ₺209

-69.10%

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

$0.49 BTN 47.11

$1.75 ₺86.0

-72.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 BTN 16.47

$0.54 ₺26.83

-68.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 BTN 247

$4.69 ₺231

-45.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 BTN 155

$5.97 ₺294

-73.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 BTN 74.8

$1.26 ₺62.1

-38.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BTN 102

$0.95 ₺46.81

11.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 BTN 100

$2.31 ₺114

-55.41%

Eggs

$1.84 BTN 179

$2.47 ₺122

-25.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.69 BTN 358

$10.55 ₺520

-65.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 BTN 388

$5.60 ₺276

-28.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.01 BTN 389

$21.21 ₺1,045

-81.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 BTN 243

$1.93 ₺95.1

30.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 BTN 151

$2.29 ₺113

-31.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 BTN 152

$1.28 ₺63.1

22.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 BTN 68.6

$1.84 ₺90.8

-61.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 BTN 54.2

$0.67 ₺32.86

-16.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 BTN 68.3

$0.59 ₺29.31

18.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 BTN 38.00

$1.33 ₺65.4

-70.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 BTN 30.22

$0.59 ₺29.10

-47.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.81 BTN 369

$2.36 ₺116

61.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.91 BTN 282

$13.47 ₺664

-78.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 BTN 60.5

$2.42 ₺119

-74.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BTN 127

$3.54 ₺174

-62.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 BTN 73.5

$0.83 ₺40.64

-8.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.18 BTN 502

$66.5 ₺3,273

-92.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 BTN 72.7

$1.35 ₺66.6

-44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 BTN 147

$0.85 ₺42.05

78.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.16 BTN 15.51

$10.86 ₺535

-98.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 BTN 73.4

$1.47 ₺72.3

-48.30%

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

$16.8K BTN 1.6M

$51.6K ₺2.5M

-67.55%

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

$15.0K BTN 1.5M

$44.4K ₺2.2M

-66.14%

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

$34.28 BTN 3,321

$89.2 ₺4,395

-61.58%

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

$35.89 BTN 3,477

$11.60 ₺572

209.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.76 BTN 2,399

$16.10 ₺793

53.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.99 BTN 4,553

$77.3 ₺3,805

-39.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.41 BTN 718

$22.66 ₺1,116

-67.30%

Cinema Ticket

$3.17 BTN 307

$8.34 ₺411

-61.99%

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

$45.87 BTN 4,444

$974 ₺48.0K

-95.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$576 BTN 55.8K

$25.8K ₺1.3M

-97.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 BTN 4,874

$52.7 ₺2,597

-4.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.08 BTN 2,430

$39.16 ₺1,929

-35.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.8 BTN 6,570

$103 ₺5,083

-34.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.29 BTN 1,384

$96.6 ₺4,759

-85.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 BTN 12.2K

$994 ₺49.0K

-87.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$86.0 BTN 8,328

$629 ₺31.0K

-86.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 BTN 18.2K

$2,024 ₺99.7K

-90.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 BTN 15.1K

$1,155 ₺56.9K

-86.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,543 BTN 633.9K

$3,160 ₺155.7K

107.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$384 BTN 37.2K

$1,838 ₺90.5K

-79.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$351 BTN 34.0K

$1,203 ₺59.3K

-70.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

41.09

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

Last update for Thimphu: October 4, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Thimphu

$125 24.2%

Istanbul

$264 17.3% 112% $139

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Thimphu

$95 18.4%

Istanbul

$117 7.7% 23.2% $22

Accommodation & Living

Thimphu

$86 16.7%

Istanbul

$629 41.2% 632% $543

Clothing & Footwear

Thimphu

$71 13.7%

Istanbul

$131 8.6% 85.2% $60

Eating Out

Thimphu

$69 13.5%

Istanbul

$218 14.3% 214% $148

Sport & Entertainment

Thimphu

$53 10.3%

Istanbul

$94 6.1% 76.1% $41

Getting Around

Thimphu

$17 3.2%

Istanbul

$75 4.9% 355% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Thimphu versus $994 in Istanbul. 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 243% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Thimphu versus $55.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $125 vs $264 – making Thimphu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇧🇹 Thimphu

🇹🇷 Istanbul

🕒 Local time

07:56 7:56 AM

04:56 4:56 AM

3 h behind Thimphu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

98,676 Capital

15,701,602

💱 Currency

Bhutanese Ngultrum BTN Nu.

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BTN = 10.32 USD

1,000 BTN = 9.2 EUR

100 TRY = 2.03 USD

100 TRY = 1.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to BTN – Bhutanese Ngultrum Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇹 Bhutanese Ngultrum (Nu.)

Bhutanese Ngultrum exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.88 BTN (100 BTN = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 109 BTN (1,000 BTN = 9.2 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 49.26 TRY (100 TRY = 2.03 USD). 1 EUR = 55.25 TRY (100 TRY = 1.81 EUR).

USD to BTN in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Thimphu Istanbul 5,660 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Thimphu
Istanbul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 199%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $764 per month in Thimphu and $2,289 in Istanbul. 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.

Kindergarten costs $45.87 per month in Thimphu and $974 in Istanbul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 112% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Thimphu, where all-in costs run around $510, than in Istanbul at $1,526. In Thimphu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.