Moving to Bhutan from California

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What to Expect

Considering a move from California to Bhutan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

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

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from California to Bhutan.

Living there in 2020
141 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Bhutan · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bhutan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to California.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

CA
28.4%
BT
6.4%

Bhutan performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

CA
92.6%
BT
86.0%

California performs better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
5.1%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$84,028
BT
$14,000

California performs better than Bhutan across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

CA
79.0 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs

California performs better than Bhutan across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Sacramento Rain: 18.5 in/yr (470 mm)
74° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Sacramento Thimphu
Jan–Mar 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Sacramento Thimphu
Jan 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Bhutan passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Bhutan?

From major Bhutan cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Bhutan are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to California?

Bhutan performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In California, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BT
Population 37,253,956 867,775
Currency United States Dollar ($) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages English Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +975
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911