Moving to Bhutan from France

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from France to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Thimphu averages 72°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Bhutan

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
30

people born in France 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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
BT
12.2

France performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
BT
5.5

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France 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

FR
10.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
BT
2.0t

France generally does better on environment, though Bhutan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
BT
1.4%

France 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

FR
7.3%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
BT
$14,000

Bhutan generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
BT
27.0

France 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.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Thimphu
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Paris Thimphu
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting France

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

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?

With 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Bhutan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in France and Bhutan.

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

France performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to France?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 33.4 in France. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In France, the official language is French.

Share this

At a Glance

FR BT
Population 68,305,148 867,775
Currency Euro (€) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages French Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +33 +975
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112