Cost of living comparison
Thimphu is 2.0% more expensive than Bishkek.
- Restaurants
-
pay 39.8% less in Thimphu
- Groceries
-
pay 5.9% more in Thimphu
- Transportation
-
pay 50.7% more in Thimphu
- Housing
-
pay 5.0% less in Thimphu
- Childcare
-
pay 41.0% less in Thimphu
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.1 times more in Thimphu
- Clothing
-
pay 70.5% less in Thimphu
The cost of entertainment and sports, transportation, and groceries in Thimphu are more expensive than in Bishkek. Expenses including clothing, childcare, restaurants, and housing are lower in Thimphu. Notably, entertainment and sports is significantly more expensive in Thimphu.
If you lived in Thimphu instead of Bishkek, you would:
pay 39.8% less for restaurants
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$5.80
KGS507.25
|
$2.95
BTN252.09
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.68
KGS497.11
|
$2.95
BTN252.09
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
KGS59.14
|
$0.55
BTN47.39
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
KGS28.98
|
$0.19
BTN15.97
|
|
pay 5.9% more for groceries
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.48
KGS41.78
|
$0.94
BTN80.67
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.14
KGS449.42
|
$1.68
BTN143.69
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.25
KGS283.83
|
$3.17
BTN271.01
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.76
KGS153.67
|
$2.20
BTN188.56
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.41
KGS211.16
|
$1.74
BTN148.65
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.47
KGS41.22
|
$1.07
BTN91.48
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.85
KGS74.39
|
$0.65
BTN56.03
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.94
KGS82.52
|
$0.82
BTN70.44
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.90
KGS78.92
|
$0.37
BTN31.56
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.23
KGS19.88
|
$0.23
BTN19.67
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.24
KGS21.00
|
$0.26
BTN21.95
|
|
pay 50.7% more for transportation
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.90
KGS254.01
|
$3.93
BTN335.86
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$7.54
KGS659.43
|
$3.97
BTN339.34
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$39,443.16
KGS3,449,303.94
|
$21,215.98
BTN1,815,033.45
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$4.18
KGS365.22
|
$15.09
BTN1,290.69
|
|
pay 5.0% less for housing
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$12.05
KGS1,053.48
|
$31.25
BTN2,673.07
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$474.69
KGS41,511.27
|
$124.45
BTN10,646.84
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$353.07
KGS30,875.68
|
$79.38
BTN6,791.17
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$23.19
KGS2,027.91
|
$16.69
BTN1,427.59
|
|
pay 41.0% less for childcare
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$230.15
KGS20,126.58
|
$246.05
BTN21,049.35
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,168.50
KGS539,435.63
|
$677.73
BTN57,980.24
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.16
KGS101.45
|
$6.43
BTN550.21
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.06
KGS179.79
|
$1.53
BTN131.09
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.56
KGS136.45
|
$3.83
BTN327.71
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$43.01
KGS3,760.83
|
$49.11
BTN4,201.47
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.35
KGS380.44
|
$3.54
BTN302.51
|
|
pay 70.5% less for clothing
|
Bishkek
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$40.60
KGS3,550.75
|
$9.43
BTN806.68
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.86
KGS3,398.58
|
$11.79
BTN1,008.35
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$103.88
KGS9,084.40
|
$32.41
BTN2,772.97
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$96.67
KGS8,454.18
|
$32.41
BTN2,772.97
|
|
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