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

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

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 BTN 5,363

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 BTN 17.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

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

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 Trongsa: June 1, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: May 30, 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.