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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $457 per month in Thimphu vs $148 in Paro, rent included.

A couple spends around $749 per month in Thimphu vs $184 in Paro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,041 per month in Thimphu vs $220 in Paro, rent included.

Thimphu costs about 208% more than Paro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Thimphu and Paro are more affordable than the global median – Thimphu 66% lower, Paro 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 BTN 250

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.68 BTN 1,492

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 BTN 290

Cappuccino

$1.42 BTN 120

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

$0.49 BTN 41.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 BTN 12.46

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 BTN 241

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 BTN 192

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 BTN 67.4

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BTN 80.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 57.8

Eggs

$2.05 BTN 173

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 BTN 282

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 BTN 322

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 BTN 372

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 BTN 211

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 BTN 123

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 BTN 160

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 BTN 65.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 BTN 42.01

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 BTN 48.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 BTN 38.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.71 BTN 313

Wine (Bottle)

$3.23 BTN 273

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 53.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BTN 91.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 BTN 150

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.07 BTN 343

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 BTN 74.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 BTN 198

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.17 BTN 14.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 BTN 77.1

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

$23.57 BTN 1,989

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

$38.26 BTN 3,229

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 BTN 2,254

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.96 BTN 4,133

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 BTN 649

$3.40 BTN 287

126.18%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 BTN 302

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

$241 BTN 20.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 BTN 55.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.14 BTN 772

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.54 BTN 974

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.39 BTN 2,734

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.64 BTN 2,671

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 BTN 9,634

$198 BTN 16.7K

-42.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.9 BTN 5,224

$149 BTN 12.6K

-58.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 BTN 16.7K

$244 BTN 20.6K

-18.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

$217 BTN 18.3K

-35.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,611 BTN 558.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 BTN 33.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 BTN 29.7K

$585 BTN 49.3K

-39.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.75

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

Last update for Thimphu: July 12, 2026

Last update for Paro: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 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.

Salaries run about 66% higher in Paro, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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: $457 in Thimphu, $148 in Paro – roughly 208% apart. Thimphu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Thimphu and $223 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 $457 in Thimphu and $148 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.