Cost of Living in Punakha - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $217 (excluding rent), and $316 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $487 (excluding rent), and $623 including rent.

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 BTN 71.8

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 BTN 42.83

$0.46 BTN 38.71

$0.57 BTN 47.77

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.63 BTN 53.1

$0.57 BTN 48.11

$0.69 BTN 58.1

Eggs

$1.71 BTN 144

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 BTN 402

$4 BTN 337

$5.53 BTN 467

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 BTN 255

$2.85 BTN 240

$3.19 BTN 269

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.46 BTN 292

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 BTN 340

$2.81 BTN 237

$5.25 BTN 443

Banana (1kg)

$2.3 BTN 194

$1.16 BTN 97.6

$3.46 BTN 292

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 BTN 192

$1.7 BTN 144

$2.84 BTN 239

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 BTN 71.2

$0.72 BTN 60.8

$0.96 BTN 80.8

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 BTN 45.81

$0.49 BTN 41.41

$0.61 BTN 51.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 BTN 72.3

$0.61 BTN 51.4

$1.11 BTN 94.1

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.3 BTN 25.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 BTN 38.12

$0.34 BTN 28.38

$0.56 BTN 47.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 BTN 302

$2.97 BTN 251

$4.16 BTN 352

Wine (Bottle)

$3.24 BTN 273

$2.94 BTN 249

$3.54 BTN 299

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.8 BTN 67.7

$0.65 BTN 54.8

$0.94 BTN 79.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 BTN 110

$0.91 BTN 76.7

$1.71 BTN 144

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 BTN 200

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.66 BTN 1,491

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.13 BTN 2,206

$23.22 BTN 1,960

$29.03 BTN 2,450

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.43 BTN 965

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.4 BTN 4,764

$47.54 BTN 4,013

$65.4 BTN 5,517

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.43 BTN 3,413

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 BTN 8,686

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.8 BTN 7,749

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 BTN 8,982

$59.1 BTN 4,991

$154 BTN 13K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 BTN 11.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,551 BTN 299.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,274 BTN 276.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$264 BTN 22.3K

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

City tags:

⛩️ Asia

Cost of Living in Punakha - Frequently Asked Questions

Punakha offers a gentle pace and reasonable everyday costs that many find attractive, especially if you favor a smaller city feel over bustling capitals. Cost of Living in Punakha, Bhutan tends to be favorable for long stays thanks to affordable local groceries, simpler housing options, and low energy needs. You’ll notice cheaper rice, vegetables, and dining at neighborhood eateries compared with bigger towns, plus shorter daily commutes. Housing can be practical for long-term stays, with options near the river or in quiet hillside lanes that still feel connected to services. Tip: explore a few neighborhoods at different speeds of life to match your rhythm.

Daily life in Punakha centers on a slower rhythm, with markets, riverside walks, and hillside lanes shaping your routine. Housing ranges from simple traditional homes in quiet neighborhoods to compact town-center flats, often with sunny courtyards and easy access to services. Groceries come from local markets and small shops, while eateries offer Bhutanese staples at modest prices. Getting around is easy by bike, scooter, or occasional taxi, and many places are walkable. For budgeting, Punakha living cost gives a practical touchstone as you balance utilities, internet needs, and seasonality. Tip: test internet reliability and walkability to your preferred areas before choosing a base.

Best budgeting practices center on balancing local and imported needs, leaning toward local produce, cooking at home, and choosing seasonally available items. A sensible framework is to set a monthly ‘baseline’ for housing, food, transport, and incidental expenses, then track deviations. Seasonality affects transport and energy; monsoon rains can influence road conditions, while cooler months shift heating or warm clothing needs. For neighborhood fit, consider river-adjacent areas for scenic living and shorter commutes, or hillside pockets for tranquility and views. Networking with fellow travelers and locals helps uncover coworking options, informal workspaces, and reliable internet pockets. Tip: build a flexible budget buffer to accommodate periodic repairs or travel breaks.