How Bhutan compares across key indices
Cost of Living
25 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
79/100
Healthcare
57/100
Quality of Life
159/200
How far your money goes in Bhutan
Cost of Living
25
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
19
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
25
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
26
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Bhutan - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
79/100
Crime Index
10/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Bhutan has 4 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $494 in Phuntsholing to $578 in Thimphu. Phuntsholing leads on safety, scoring 84/100. Phuntsholing ranks highest for quality of life at 168/200.
Phuntsholing
$494/mo
Phuntsholing
84/100
Phuntsholing
168/200
Thimphu
60/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thimphu | $578 | 80/100 | 166/200 | 60/100 | 46 |
| Phuntsholing | $494 | 84/100 | 168/200 | 53/100 | 40 |
| Tsirang | $494 | 84/100 | 168/200 | 53/100 | 40 |
| Punākha | $494 | 84/100 | 168/200 | 53/100 | 40 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Bhutan. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
1
Verified records
1
Cities covered
1
Credential signals
Pangbisa
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Bhutan
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Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Bhutan
Pollution Index
48/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
23.9ug/m3
Moderate
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Bhutan, answered with data
Bhutan has a cost of living index of 25 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $578 in Thimphu.
Bhutan has a safety index of 79/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Thimphu scores highest on safety at 80/100.
Thimphu ranks highest for quality of life in Bhutan, scoring 166/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $578/mo for a single person.
Bhutan scores 57/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Bhutan's cost of living is roughly 75% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 81% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Your pre-departure checklist for Bhutan
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Cost of Living
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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