Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Paro Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Paro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $498 per month in Thimphu vs $147 in Paro, rent included.

A couple spends around $762 per month in Thimphu vs $303 in Paro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,026 per month in Thimphu vs $458 in Paro, rent included.

Thimphu costs about 238% more than Paro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Thimphu and Paro are more affordable than the global median – Thimphu 64% lower, Paro 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 BTN 218

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.16 BTN 1,195

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.66 BTN 309

Cappuccino

$1.35 BTN 114

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

$0.50 BTN 42.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 BTN 14.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 BTN 219

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 BTN 182

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 BTN 67.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BTN 91.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 BTN 83.2

Eggs

$1.90 BTN 161

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.86 BTN 326

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 BTN 350

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.03 BTN 341

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 BTN 215

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 BTN 135

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 BTN 140

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 BTN 64.7

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 BTN 51.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 57.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 BTN 34.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 BTN 26.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 BTN 342

Wine (Bottle)

$2.83 BTN 239

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 BTN 49.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 BTN 115

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 BTN 63.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.17 BTN 437

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 BTN 68.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 BTN 131

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.16 BTN 13.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 BTN 64.2

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

$15.6K BTN 1.3M

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

$35.21 BTN 2,972

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

$37.08 BTN 3,130

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.61 BTN 2,077

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.48 BTN 4,008

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 BTN 645

$3.49 BTN 294

119.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.20 BTN 270

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$573 BTN 48.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 BTN 5,805

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.56 BTN 1,229

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 BTN 11.1K

$198 BTN 16.7K

-33.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 BTN 7,448

$151 BTN 12.7K

-41.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 BTN 16.2K

$497 BTN 42.0K

-61.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 BTN 13.3K

$454 BTN 38.3K

-65.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,846 BTN 577.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 BTN 33.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$356 BTN 30.1K

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

Last update for Thimphu: September 6, 2026

Last update for Paro: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Thimphu versus $198 in Paro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Paro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $498 in Thimphu, $147 in Paro – roughly 238% apart. Thimphu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $747 per month in Thimphu and $221 in Paro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $498 in Thimphu and $147 in Paro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Paro – 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 Paro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thimphu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.