Moving to China from Bhutan

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Bhutan to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Bhutan to China, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Bhutan to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

BT
2.5
CN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BT
12.2
CN
17.4

Bhutan generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BT
$677
CN
$1,487
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BT
5.5
CN
25.2

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BT
57.0
CN
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BT
2.0t
CN
9.3t

Bhutan performs better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BT
0.4
CN
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BT
1.4%
CN
41.5%

Bhutan generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BT
5.7%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BT
$14,000
CN
$22,100

China performs significantly better than Bhutan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BT
72.3 yrs
CN
76.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BT
27.0
CN
6.8

China 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

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Thimphu Beijing
Jan–Mar 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Thimphu Beijing
Jan 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting China

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

China passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
China 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 China?

Internet is rarely the blocker — China has 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is China safe for expats?

Bhutan generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.

How is healthcare in China compared to Bhutan?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).

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

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.

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At a Glance

BT CN
Population 867,775 1,410,539,758
Currency Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages Dzongkha Chinese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +975 +86
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110