Moving to Bhutan from Vanuatu

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vanuatu 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 83°F in Port Vila, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Vanuatu 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

VU
0.3
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
12.5
BT
12.2

Vanuatu generally does better on safety, though Bhutan leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VU
$141
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

VU
1.6
BT
5.5

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu 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

VU
57.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VU
0.9t
BT
2.0t

Vanuatu performs better than Bhutan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VU
1.1
BT
0.4

Vanuatu performs better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

VU
5.1%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VU
$3,000
BT
$14,000

Vanuatu 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

VU
75.1 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VU
14.3
BT
27.0

Vanuatu 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.

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Vila Thimphu
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Port Vila Thimphu
Jan 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vanuatu 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.

Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Required
Bhutan passport holders need a visa to enter Vanuatu.

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 Vanuatu and Bhutan.

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Vanuatu generally does better on safety, though Bhutan leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Vanuatu.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Vanuatu?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 83°F in Port Vila. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Port Vila gets 87.5 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

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

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At a Glance

VU BT
Population 308,043 867,775
Currency Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages Bislama, English, French Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +678 +975
Time zones 1 1