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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $455 per month in Thimphu vs $149 in Paro, rent included.

A couple spends around $757 per month in Thimphu vs $185 in Paro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Thimphu vs $220 in Paro, rent included.

Thimphu costs about 204% 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

$2.93 BTN 248

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.63 BTN 1,488

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 BTN 293

Cappuccino

$1.48 BTN 125

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

$0.48 BTN 40.91

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 BTN 14.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BTN 252

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BTN 194

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 BTN 73.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BTN 79.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 BTN 62.5

Eggs

$2.00 BTN 169

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.24 BTN 273

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 BTN 319

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.25 BTN 359

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 BTN 215

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 BTN 128

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 BTN 157

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 BTN 61.7

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 BTN 45.20

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 BTN 52.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 BTN 38.43

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.88

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BTN 317

Wine (Bottle)

$3.19 BTN 270

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 BTN 53.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 BTN 87.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 BTN 144

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.10 BTN 346

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 BTN 71.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 BTN 188

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.19 BTN 15.82

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 BTN 82.2

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

$23.29 BTN 1,966

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

$38.02 BTN 3,209

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.34 BTN 2,308

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.52 BTN 4,096

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.60 BTN 642

$3.58 BTN 302

112.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 BTN 290

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

$242 BTN 20.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 BTN 57.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.13 BTN 771

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.81 BTN 997

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.80 BTN 2,685

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.61 BTN 2,668

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 BTN 9,925

$204 BTN 17.2K

-42.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 BTN 5,363

$152 BTN 12.9K

-58.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 BTN 17.1K

$241 BTN 20.4K

-16.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

$216 BTN 18.2K

-35.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,698 BTN 565.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$390 BTN 33.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 BTN 29.4K

$587 BTN 49.5K

-40.61%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Paro: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Thimphu versus $204 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 68% 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: $455 in Thimphu, $149 in Paro – roughly 204% apart. Thimphu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $682 per month in Thimphu and $224 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 $455 in Thimphu and $149 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.