Moving to Bhutan from Michigan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Michigan 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 58°F in Lansing, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Michigan to Bhutan, based on official data.

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

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

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

MI
36.0%
BT
6.4%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MI
89.4%
BT
86.0%

Michigan 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

MI
4.8%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MI
$55,508
BT
$14,000

Michigan generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MI
76.0 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs

Michigan 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.

Lansing Rain: 32.2 in/yr (817 mm)
58° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lansing Thimphu
Jan–Mar 36°/21°F (2°/-6°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/57°F (26°/14°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/32°F (9°/0°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Lansing Thimphu
Jan 31°/17°F (-0.8°/-8.3°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 34°/19°F (0.9°/-7.4°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 44°/27°F (6.7°/-2.8°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 58°/38°F (14.2°/3.3°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 69°/48°F (20.5°/8.9°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.2°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 81°/60°F (27.0°/15.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 74°/51°F (23.1°/10.8°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 60°/41°F (15.8°/5.1°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 47°/33°F (8.6°/0.5°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 35°/22°F (1.6°/-5.3°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?

Usually fine from major cities in Bhutan. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Michigan?

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

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 58°F in Lansing. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Lansing gets 32.2 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

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

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At a Glance

BT
Population 9,883,640 867,775
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