Moving to New Zealand from Bhutan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Bhutan to New Zealand — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Bhutan to New Zealand, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°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 New Zealand, and how the trend has changed.
people moved from Bhutan to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
How Bhutan and New Zealand stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs significantly better than Bhutan across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Bhutan generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Bhutan generally does better on infrastructure, though New Zealand leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New Zealand performs significantly better than Bhutan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Thimphu | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Thimphu | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM),
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.
Bhutan passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand passport holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
With 35.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, New Zealand 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 New Zealand.
Is New Zealand safe for expats?
New Zealand performs significantly better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Bhutan?
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Bhutan?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.
