Moving to Bhutan from North Korea
What to Expect
Considering a move from North Korea to Bhutan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from North Korea 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 P'yongyang, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to North Korea.
How's the healthcare?
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
North Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Bhutan performs significantly better than North Korea across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Bhutan performs significantly better than North Korea across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
North Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
percentage of adults who can read and write
North Korea generally does better on family life, though Bhutan leads in life expectancy.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | P'yongyang | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 38°/20°F (4°/-7°C) | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/65°F (27°/18°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/31°F (10°/0°C) | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | P'yongyang | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/13°F (-0.8°/-10.7°C) | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/18°F (2.4°/-7.8°C) | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) |
| Mar | 48°/29°F (8.9°/-1.8°C) | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) |
| Apr | 63°/41°F (17.1°/4.9°C) | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) |
| May | 73°/52°F (22.6°/10.9°C) | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 80°/62°F (26.7°/16.5°C) | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) |
| Jul | 83°/69°F (28.6°/20.7°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.5°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) |
| Sep | 76°/58°F (24.7°/14.3°C) | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 65°/44°F (18.2°/6.7°C) | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) |
| Nov | 49°/31°F (9.4°/-0.3°C) | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) |
| Dec | 35°/19°F (1.7°/-7.2°C) | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) |
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between North Korea 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.
North Korea passport holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Bhutan passport holder visiting North Korea
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 North Korea and Bhutan are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to North Korea?
North Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in adult obesity rate. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 36.7 in North Korea. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (North Korea: 68).
What's the weather like in Bhutan compared to North Korea?
The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 60°F in P'yongyang. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while P'yongyang gets 37.0 in.
What language do they speak in Bhutan?
The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In North Korea, the official language is Korean.
