Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Punakha Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Punakha

😐 Solo nomad: Thimphu is 99.3% more expensive than Punakha without rent, and 45.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Thimphu is 87.8% more expensive than Punakha without rent, and 67.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.92 BTN 268

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.17 BTN 1,573

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 BTN 314

Cappuccino

$1.47 BTN 135

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

$0.52 BTN 47.52

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 BTN 15.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 BTN 271

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 BTN 210

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 BTN 78.9

$0.85 BTN 77.9

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 BTN 81.5

$0.55 BTN 49.95

61.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 62.4

$0.62 BTN 56.7

9.68%

Eggs

$1.98 BTN 182

$1.63 BTN 150

21.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.23 BTN 296

$4.94 BTN 453

-34.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 BTN 349

$3.18 BTN 291

19.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.24 BTN 388

$3.59 BTN 329

18.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 BTN 232

$3.99 BTN 366

-36.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 BTN 133

$2.35 BTN 215

-38.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BTN 177

$2.30 BTN 210

-16.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 BTN 71.6

$0.79 BTN 72.4

-1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 BTN 44.57

$0.51 BTN 46.69

-3.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 BTN 56.7

$0.89 BTN 81.3

-30.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 BTN 41.55

$0.28 BTN 25.49

60.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 31.31

$0.45 BTN 41.31

-24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.68 BTN 337

$3.44 BTN 316

6.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.33 BTN 305

$3.06 BTN 280

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 57.5

$0.82 BTN 74.9

-23.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 BTN 93.5

$1.31 BTN 120

-22.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 BTN 164

$2.31 BTN 211

-22.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.01 BTN 368

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 BTN 78.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 BTN 207

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.15 BTN 13.83

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 BTN 86.9

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

$23.34 BTN 2,139

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

$37.08 BTN 3,397

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.64 BTN 2,441

$17.82 BTN 1,633

49.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.13 BTN 4,411

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.66 BTN 702

Cinema Ticket

$3.55 BTN 325

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

$246 BTN 22.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$678 BTN 62.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.23 BTN 846

$25.98 BTN 2,381

-64.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.44 BTN 1,048

$11.53 BTN 1,057

-0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.53 BTN 2,981

$54.3 BTN 4,978

-40.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.25 BTN 2,955

$40.09 BTN 3,673

-19.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 BTN 10.5K

$107 BTN 9,792

7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.4 BTN 5,717

$94.9 BTN 8,697

-34.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 BTN 18.3K

$107 BTN 9,765

87.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 12.8K

$135 BTN 12.4K

3.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$643 BTN 58.9K

$3,231 BTN 296.1K

-80.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$261 BTN 23.9K

$3,080 BTN 282.2K

-91.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 BTN 47.4K

$246 BTN 22.6K

110.15%

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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Punakha: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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