Moving to Bhutan from Rwanda

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Rwanda to Bhutan — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Rwanda to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Rwanda and Bhutan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
BT
12.2

Rwanda 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

RW
$177
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
BT
5.5

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
BT
2.0t

Rwanda 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

RW
0.3
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
BT
1.4%

Bhutan performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
BT
$14,000

Bhutan performs significantly better than Rwanda across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
BT
27.0

Rwanda 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.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Thimphu
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Thimphu
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Rwanda 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.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa on Arrival
Bhutan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.

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?

With 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Bhutan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Rwanda and Bhutan.

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Rwanda 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 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Rwanda?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW BT
Population 13,173,730 867,775
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +250 +975
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112