Costs in Bhutan

The National Statistics Bureau (NSB) found in the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2025, abbreviated HCES, that 5,883 of 6,200 households had average monthly expenditure of 54,387 ngultrum. The average was 17,434 ngultrum per person. In urban households, the average was 67,616 ngultrum, or 22,168 ngultrum per person, while in rural households it was 46,331 ngultrum, or 14,550 ngultrum per person. The average household size was 3.7 people. It was 4.8 people in the lowest expenditure quintile and 2.6 in the highest. These figures describe average expenditure, not a minimum budget or a generally sufficient amount for every household. The regional range is wide. In HCES 2025, Thimphu recorded average monthly household expenditure of 73,632 ngultrum, compared with 26,934 ngultrum in Trashi Yangtse. The consumer price inflation measured by the NSB was 6.07 percent nationwide year on year in March 2026 and 6.63 percent in the capital. Food prices increased by 9.39 percent in 2025. Regionally, inflation ranged from 7.89 percent in the central region and 7.22 percent in the west to 4.14 percent in the east. A budget should therefore be adjusted regularly to reflect price developments. Food cost an average of 21,991 ngultrum per household per month in HCES 2025, or 7,069 ngultrum per person. In urban areas, the figures were 23,728 ngultrum per household and 9,126 ngultrum per person; in rural areas, they were 17,194 ngultrum per household and 5,816 ngultrum per person. Grains accounted for 21.4 percent of food expenditure, dairy products and cooking oil 19.5 percent, vegetables 15.49 percent, and meat and fish 12.92 percent. Rural households spend relatively more on staple foods, while urban households tend to spend more on meat and fish. Nationwide, housing, water, electricity, gas and fuels cost approximately 7,692 ngultrum per month, compared with 9,283 ngultrum in urban areas and 6,724 ngultrum in rural areas. Around 82.6 percent of this category was rent. Nationwide, 53.2 percent of households own their accommodation. The share is 75.8 percent in rural areas but only 16 percent in urban areas. About 60 percent live in detached houses, 34 percent in apartments and 5 percent in shared accommodation. According to BLSS 2022, median house rent was 8,842 ngultrum in Thimphu, 5,534 ngultrum in Trashi Yangtse and 5,429 ngultrum in Paro. Approximately 9,100 ngultrum was reported for Thimphu municipal administration (Thromde). Bhutan has no uniform nationwide rent. Private landlords and the responsible municipal administration or district administration (Dzongkhag) shape the local housing market. Electricity access is 99.6 percent. Under the most recently published tariff of the Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC), consumption in rural low-voltage areas from 0 to 100 kWh costs 0 ngultrum, and consumption above that level costs 2.66 ngultrum per kWh. For Highlanders, the initial range from 0 to 200 kWh costs 0 ngultrum. In other low-voltage areas, the range from 0 to 100 kWh costs 1.28 ngultrum per kWh, and consumption above that level costs 2.66 ngultrum per kWh. The current tariff should be checked again before budgeting because a later revision is possible. There is no documented uniform nationwide tariff for water, waste disposal or liquefied gas; costs depend on the market, location and responsible Thromde or Dzongkhag. The Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) oversees the national transport sector, including buses and taxis. Fares depend on the region, route and vehicle. In March 2025, the BCTA published a fare review. On Thimphu city buses, the published Smartcard base is 5 ngultrum plus 1 ngultrum for each additional stop. With cash payment, the fare is approximately 10 ngultrum plus a zone-dependent surcharge. Concession cards are available for students, people with disabilities and older people. Owning a vehicle also creates fuel, maintenance, registration and parking costs. There is no documented uniform nationwide commuter allowance. Basic public healthcare is free for Bhutanese citizens under the Constitution. Access normally proceeds through a Basic Health Unit (BHU), a district or regional hospital and, where necessary, a national referral hospital. A fee-based payment basis applies to non-Bhutanese people. Self-referrals to referral hospitals, further diagnostics, private rooms, advanced dental treatment, medical certificates and medicines outside the essential list may create additional costs. Under the Health Sector Rules and Regulations 2025, prices must be approved and publicly displayed. Providers must issue an invoice. Healthcare costs therefore remain a significant budget risk, even when average official household expenditure appears low. Public basic education through Class 10 is free. Government support has extended through Class 12 since 2020. The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) is responsible. Depending on the situation, families must still finance uniforms, learning materials, meals, transport, boarding, private schooling or tertiary and vocational education fees. Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) for children aged three to five is being expanded. Depending on the location, there is a centre or a home-based alternative. Fees for childcare and ECCD vary individually. Grants for school attendance are governed by the applicable rules of the finance and education ministries. Household size plays a major role in family costs. Special family occasions are recorded in HCES, but no general flat amount is documented. Childcare, care for older people and support for people with disabilities are organised by families, communities, public services or individual providers and therefore create highly variable costs. Maternity leave is provided for by law. The financial relief nevertheless depends on the employer and status. For communications, published Bhutan Telecom prepaid data tariffs cost 19 or 29 ngultrum per day and 39 or 49 ngultrum per week. Postpaid mobile service costs between 199 and 3,999 ngultrum per month depending on the plan, prepaid broadband between 399 and 2,499 ngultrum, and postpaid broadband between 499 and 2,999 ngultrum. Postpaid bills include 5 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST). Bhutan Telecom and TashiCell provide access. Network coverage, tariff availability, installation, equipment and connection costs should be checked at the specific place of residence. Leisure is a separate expenditure group in HCES and in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, no valid nationwide standard amount is documented. Admission, travel, food and equipment determine the costs depending on the activity. The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) applies to visitors and does not automatically form part of the housing and everyday costs of people ordinarily residing in Bhutan. For visitors, the fee is 100 US dollars per night for adults and 50 US dollars for children aged 6 to 11. Children under 6 pay no SDF. For Indian nationals, the fee is 1,200 ngultrum per night for adults and 600 ngultrum for children aged 6 to 11. For household planning, separate scenarios are useful for urban and rural areas, different household sizes, renting or owning, school-age children, medical needs, a private vehicle and imported food. A liquidity reserve should cover repairs, travel, medical expenses and private education. Rent and other ongoing housing costs usually occur monthly, food continuously, telecommunications monthly, school costs by semester or year, and healthcare costs depending on events. Banks, debt and taxes are not part of the core cost topic. Taxes such as GST may nevertheless be included as components of prices. For current amounts, the NSB, BPC, MoH, MoESD, BCTA, Thromde, Dzongkhag and the respective providers are the authoritative bodies.