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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 BTN 250

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.68 BTN 1,492

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 BTN 290

Cappuccino

$1.42 BTN 120

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

$0.49 BTN 41.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 BTN 12.46

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 BTN 241

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 BTN 192

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 BTN 67.4

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BTN 80.3

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 57.8

Eggs

$2.05 BTN 173

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 BTN 282

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 BTN 322

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 BTN 372

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 BTN 211

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 BTN 123

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 BTN 160

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 BTN 65.0

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 BTN 42.01

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 BTN 48.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 BTN 38.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.71 BTN 313

Wine (Bottle)

$3.23 BTN 273

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 53.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BTN 91.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 BTN 150

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.07 BTN 343

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 BTN 74.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 BTN 198

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.17 BTN 14.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 BTN 77.1

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

$23.57 BTN 1,989

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

$38.26 BTN 3,229

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 BTN 2,254

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.96 BTN 4,133

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 BTN 649

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 BTN 302

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

$241 BTN 20.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 BTN 55.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.14 BTN 772

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.54 BTN 974

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.39 BTN 2,734

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.64 BTN 2,671

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 BTN 9,634

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.9 BTN 5,224

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 BTN 16.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,611 BTN 558.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 BTN 33.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 BTN 29.7K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: July 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

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.