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

😐 Solo nomad: Thimphu is 65.4% more expensive than Punakha without rent, and 48.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Thimphu is 103.7% more expensive than Punakha without rent, and 60.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.95 BTN 274

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.81 BTN 1,655

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.60 BTN 335

Cappuccino

$1.46 BTN 136

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

$0.48 BTN 44.94

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 BTN 15.40

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 BTN 278

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 BTN 221

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 BTN 74.4

$0.85 BTN 78.9

-5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 BTN 87.8

$0.54 BTN 50.1

74.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 63.5

$0.63 BTN 58.4

7.94%

Eggs

$1.97 BTN 183

$1.71 BTN 159

15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 BTN 313

$4.75 BTN 442

-29.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 BTN 367

$3.17 BTN 294

24.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.34 BTN 403

$3.52 BTN 327

23.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 BTN 237

$4.13 BTN 384

-38.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 BTN 135

$2.29 BTN 213

-36.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BTN 170

$2.30 BTN 214

-20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 BTN 72.8

$0.79 BTN 73.0

-1.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 BTN 48.67

$0.50 BTN 46.65

4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 BTN 56.6

$0.92 BTN 85.3

-33.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 BTN 41.85

$0.30 BTN 28.00

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 BTN 29.44

$0.45 BTN 41.54

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BTN 349

$3.59 BTN 334

4.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.24 BTN 301

$2.96 BTN 275

9.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 BTN 54.9

$0.80 BTN 74.4

-26.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 BTN 96.1

$1.32 BTN 123

-21.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 BTN 165

$2.39 BTN 222

-25.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.96 BTN 368

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 BTN 83.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 BTN 209

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.15 BTN 14.28

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 BTN 85.2

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

$22.68 BTN 2,107

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

$38.19 BTN 3,548

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.71 BTN 2,481

$17.80 BTN 1,653

50.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.39 BTN 4,496

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 BTN 692

Cinema Ticket

$3.60 BTN 334

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

$240 BTN 22.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$678 BTN 63.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.50 BTN 882

$26.06 BTN 2,421

-63.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.49 BTN 1,068

$11.57 BTN 1,075

-0.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.45 BTN 3,015

$54.3 BTN 5,042

-40.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.74 BTN 2,949

$40.80 BTN 3,790

-22.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 BTN 10.9K

$105 BTN 9,723

12.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.4 BTN 5,888

$94.0 BTN 8,729

-32.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 BTN 18.5K

$104 BTN 9,704

90.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 BTN 12.8K

$135 BTN 12.5K

2.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$635 BTN 59.0K

$3,170 BTN 294.5K

-79.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$258 BTN 24.0K

$2,962 BTN 275.2K

-91.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 BTN 48.0K

$244 BTN 22.6K

112.29%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Punakha: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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