Moving to Bhutan from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Bhutan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from United States to Bhutan.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Bhutan performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
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
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States generally does better on environment, though Bhutan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Bhutan leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States generally does better on family life, though Bhutan leads in education spending.
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 | Washington | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Bhutan passport holder visiting United States
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?
Connectivity is usually fine (Bhutan: 0.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bhutan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Bhutan safe for expats?
Bhutan performs significantly better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to United States?
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 36.1 in United States. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Bhutan compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Bhutan?
The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In United States, the official language is English.
