Cost of living comparison
Thimphu is 5.8% cheaper than Vientiane.
- Restaurants
-
pay 0.8% less in Thimphu
- Groceries
-
pay 23.4% less in Thimphu
- Transportation
-
pay 25.9% less in Thimphu
- Housing
-
pay 16.2% less in Thimphu
- Childcare
-
pay 59.4% less in Thimphu
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.4 times more in Thimphu
- Clothing
-
pay 58.9% less in Thimphu
Expenses including childcare, clothing, transportation, groceries, housing, and restaurants are lower in Thimphu. Notably, entertainment and sports is significantly more expensive in Thimphu.
If you lived in Thimphu instead of Vientiane, you would:
pay 0.8% less for restaurants
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$1.98
LAK42,875
|
$2.95
BTN251.53
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$2.97
LAK64,312
|
$2.95
BTN251.53
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.53
LAK11,434
|
$0.55
BTN47.29
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.42
LAK9,148
|
$0.19
BTN15.93
|
|
pay 23.4% less for groceries
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
LAK19,722
|
$0.94
BTN80.49
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$13.72
LAK296,651
|
$1.68
BTN143.37
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.42
LAK138,829
|
$3.17
BTN270.41
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.75
LAK37,857
|
$2.20
BTN188.14
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.95
LAK63,810
|
$1.74
BTN148.32
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.88
LAK19,071
|
$1.07
BTN91.27
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.49
LAK10,646
|
$0.65
BTN55.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.92
LAK19,968
|
$0.82
BTN70.28
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.60
LAK12,885
|
$0.37
BTN31.49
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.73
LAK15,698
|
$0.23
BTN19.62
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.46
LAK9,906
|
$0.26
BTN21.91
|
|
pay 25.9% less for transportation
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.00
LAK108,212
|
$3.93
BTN335.12
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.23
LAK1,064,677
|
$3.97
BTN338.58
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,330.27
LAK612,642,077
|
$21,215.98
BTN1,810,999.60
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$11.18
LAK241,815
|
$15.09
BTN1,287.82
|
|
pay 16.2% less for housing
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.17
LAK241,611
|
$31.25
BTN2,667.13
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$859.15
LAK18,579,164
|
$124.45
BTN10,623.18
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$775.98
LAK16,780,509
|
$79.38
BTN6,776.08
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$54.31
LAK1,174,415
|
$16.69
BTN1,424.42
|
|
pay 59.4% less for childcare
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$332.66
LAK7,193,766
|
$246.05
BTN21,002.56
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,252.41
LAK200,083,301
|
$677.73
BTN57,851.38
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.95
LAK20,514
|
$6.43
BTN548.99
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.50
LAK32,342
|
$1.53
BTN130.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.59
LAK34,300
|
$3.83
BTN326.99
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$49.74
LAK1,075,594
|
$49.11
BTN4,192.13
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
LAK75,772
|
$3.54
BTN301.83
|
|
pay 58.9% less for clothing
|
Vientiane
|
Thimphu
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$85.86
LAK1,856,658
|
$9.43
BTN804.89
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$62.88
LAK1,359,750
|
$11.79
BTN1,006.11
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$57.29
LAK1,238,844
|
$32.41
BTN2,766.80
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$41.48
LAK896,948
|
$32.41
BTN2,766.80
|
|
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