Cost of living comparison
Thimphu is 2.2 times more expensive than Islamabad.
If you lived in Thimphu instead of Islamabad, you would:
pay 73.2% more for restaurants
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$1.23
PKR343.22
|
$3.06
BTN254.43
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$2.82
PKR784.51
|
$3.06
BTN254.43
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.22
PKR60.41
|
$0.48
BTN39.86
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.15
PKR41.27
|
$0.17
BTN14.25
|
|
pay 96.1% more for groceries
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.48
PKR134.48
|
$0.78
BTN65.18
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$2.02
PKR561.93
|
$1.91
BTN159.02
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$2.38
PKR662.69
|
$3.17
BTN263.40
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$0.94
PKR262.45
|
$1.68
BTN139.49
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$0.93
PKR257.88
|
$1.59
BTN132.11
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.39
PKR107.82
|
$1.25
BTN103.90
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.24
PKR67.84
|
$0.62
BTN51.74
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.32
PKR88.89
|
$1.02
BTN84.66
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.23
PKR65.37
|
$0.36
BTN30.01
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.12
PKR34.68
|
$0.26
BTN21.55
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.18
PKR49.83
|
$0.29
BTN23.86
|
|
pay 2.9 times more for transportation
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.16
PKR880.12
|
$4.21
BTN350.41
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$3.87
PKR1,078.70
|
$15.30
BTN1,272.99
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$13,380.28
PKR3,726,408.45
|
$15,286.85
BTN1,272,141.93
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$1.94
PKR539.35
|
$9.78
BTN814.17
|
|
pay 0.9% more for housing
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$15.15
PKR4,219.80
|
$20.38
BTN1,696.19
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$148.59
PKR41,382.75
|
$175.54
BTN14,608.43
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$86.06
PKR23,966.69
|
$85.67
BTN7,129.65
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$50.24
PKR13,990.53
|
$25.87
BTN2,153.16
|
|
pay 2.9 times more for childcare
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$39.54
PKR11,011.70
|
$190.61
BTN15,862.20
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$804.88
PKR224,159.81
|
$794.92
BTN66,151.38
|
|
pay 3.5 times more for entertainment and sports
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
PKR588.38
|
$10.07
BTN837.86
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.06
PKR295.66
|
$1.22
BTN101.77
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$1.06
PKR294.19
|
$6.11
BTN508.86
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$15.92
PKR4,433.28
|
$71.37
BTN5,939.49
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$2.82
PKR784.51
|
$3.67
BTN305.31
|
|
pay 49.6% more for clothing
Islamabad
|
Thimphu
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$12.72
PKR3,542.05
|
$29.76
BTN2,476.44
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$16.75
PKR4,666.18
|
$18.96
BTN1,577.46
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$51.89
PKR14,452.67
|
$40.76
BTN3,392.38
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$29.47
PKR8,207.48
|
$50.96
BTN4,240.47
|
|
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