Moving to Austria from Bhutan

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Bhutan to Austria — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Bhutan to Austria, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vienna averages 58°F vs 72°F in Thimphu, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Bhutan to Austria, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
9 ↑ 50% vs 2022

people moved from Bhutan to Austria · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Austria?

Top countries of origin for Austria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Bhutan and Austria stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BT
2.5
AT
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BT
12.2
AT
4.6

Austria performs significantly better than Bhutan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BT
$677
AT
$8,250
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BT
5.5
AT
55.1

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Austria leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BT
57.0
AT
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BT
2.0t
AT
6.3t

Bhutan generally does better on environment, though Austria leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BT
0.4
AT
29.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BT
1.4%
AT
8.7%

Austria generally does better on infrastructure, though Bhutan leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BT
5.7%
AT
5.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BT
$14,000
AT
$64,600

Austria generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BT
72.3 yrs
AT
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BT
27.0
AT
3.2

Austria generally does better on family life, though Bhutan leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Vienna Rain: 24.4 in/yr (620 mm)
58° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Thimphu Vienna
Jan–Mar 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) 43°/31°F (6°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) 67°/50°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 75°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) 48°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Thimphu Vienna
Jan 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C)
Feb 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C)
Mar 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C)
Apr 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C)
May 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Jun 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C)
Sep 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C)
Nov 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C)
Dec 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C)

Data: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), GeoSphere Austria GeoSphere Austria

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and Austria. To live, work, or study long-term in Austria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Austria's immigration authority.

Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting Austria

Visa Required
Bhutan passport holders need a visa to enter Austria.
Austria passport

Austria passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Austria passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bhutan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Austria?

With 29.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Austria can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Bhutan and Austria.

Is Austria safe for expats?

Austria performs significantly better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Austria is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.

How is healthcare in Austria compared to Bhutan?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Austria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 55.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Austria, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. Austria scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).

What's the weather like in Austria compared to Bhutan?

The average high temperature in Vienna is 58°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Vienna receives around 24.4 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.

What language do they speak in Austria?

The official language in Austria is German. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.

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At a Glance

BT AT
Population 867,775 8,913,088
Currency Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) Euro (€)
Languages Dzongkha German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +975 +43
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112