Moving to Bhutan from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Bhutan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa 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 Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Bhutan.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Bhutan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Bhutan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Bhutan passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 Iowa and Bhutan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Iowa?
Bhutan performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Bhutan compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Bhutan?
The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Iowa, the official language is English.
