Moving to Bhutan from New York

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from New York 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 Albany, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from New York 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 New York.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

NY
29.9%
BT
6.4%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

NY
89.7%
BT
86.0%

New York 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

NY
4.4%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NY
$91,992
BT
$14,000

New York 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

NY
77.7 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs

New York 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.

Albany Rain: 39.4 in/yr (1000 mm)
58° / 39°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Albany Thimphu
Jan–Mar 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/58°F (26°/14°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 Albany Thimphu
Jan 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°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 New York and Bhutan are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to New York?

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

What's the weather like in Bhutan compared to New York?

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

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

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At a Glance

BT
Population 19,378,102 867,775
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