Cost of Living Comparison Between Trongsa and Thimphu Cost of Living Comparison Between Trongsa and Thimphu

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

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.2 BTN 7,448

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 BTN 16.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 BTN 13.3K

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 Trongsa: September 6, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: September 6, 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

Trongsa vs Thimphu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, Trongsa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Thimphu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Trongsa and Thimphu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Trongsa wins on affordability, Thimphu on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.