Moving to Bhutan from Philippines

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Philippines 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 88°F in Manila, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
18 ↓ 5% vs 2015

people born in Philippines 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 Philippines to Bhutan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

PH
4.3
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PH
9.7
BT
12.2

Philippines generally does better on safety, though Bhutan leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PH
$560
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PH
7.9
BT
5.5

Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PH
92.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PH
1.5t
BT
2.0t

Philippines generally does better on environment, though Bhutan leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PH
7.6
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PH
27.2%
BT
1.4%

Philippines 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

PH
2.2%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PH
$9,700
BT
$14,000

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PH
70.1 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PH
22.2
BT
27.0

Philippines 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.

Manila Rain: 86.7 in/yr (2201 mm)
88° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Manila Thimphu
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Manila Thimphu
Jan 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines 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.

Philippines passport

Philippines passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting Philippines

Visa Free
Bhutan passport holders can enter Philippines without a visa.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bhutan has 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Philippines generally does better on safety, though Bhutan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Philippines?

Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in health coverage index. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 7.9 in Philippines. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.

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At a Glance

PH BT
Population 114,597,229 867,775
Currency Philippine Peso (₱) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages English, Filipino Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +63 +975
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911