Phuntsholing, a bustling border town in Bhutan, serves as a gateway to the country and offers a unique blend of cultures and lifestyles. Understanding the cost of living here is crucial for both residents and potential newcomers.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of expenses in Phuntsholing, covering essential categories such as dining, groceries, transportation, housing, and utilities.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $2.96 on average, with a range between $2.61 and $4.15.
  • Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $17.77, with prices ranging from $9.47 to $59.22.
  • Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $2.96, with a range between $2.96 and $3.55.
  • Beverages (e.g., Domestic Beer, Imported Beer, Cappuccino, Coke/Pepsi) - Domestic beer ranges from $2.96 to $10, imported beer $1.78 to $2.37, cappuccino $1.18 to $2.96, and Coke/Pepsi $0.3 to $0.95.

Grocery Prices

  • Milk - Milk is priced between $0.59 and $0.95 per liter, averaging $0.84.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $0.24 and $1.78, with an average price of $0.95.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $1.09 to $3.13, averaging $2.21.
  • Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $1.18 to $3.32 per kg, while oranges range from $1.07 to $2.96 per kg.
  • Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes are priced between $0.36 and $1.18 per kg, and lettuce costs $0.24 to $0.59 per head.

Transportation

  • Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced between $0.88 and $1.42 per liter.
  • Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $0.59, with a cost of $1.18 to $2.96 per km and $0.18 per hour of waiting.

Housing Costs

  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Data not available.
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Data not available.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Data not available.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Data not available.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (City Centre) - Data not available.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (Outside Centre) - Data not available.

Utilities

  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment cost between $11.84 and $31.61, averaging $21.73.
  • Internet - Internet services range from $29.61 to $32.57, with an average cost of $31.26.

Cost of Living Data

We don't have enough data available for this city...
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$2.96
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
$17.77
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
$2.96
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.48
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19
Cappuccino (regular)
$1.54
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$0.84
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$0.95
Eggs (regular) (12)
$2.21
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.38
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.55
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
$3.85
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85
Apples (1kg)
$2.37
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82
Potato (1kg)
$0.51
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46
Rice (white), (1kg)
$0.73
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82
Banana (1kg)
$1.45
Onion (1kg)
$0.57
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$4.26
Transportation
Avg / Range
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
$21,318.53
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$1.78
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.18
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
$26,055.98
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$21.73
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$31.26
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data
$35.22
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$3.55
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.47
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$11.84
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$32.57
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$32.57
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
9.6%
Childcare
Avg / Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
$247.24
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
$681.01
Phuntsholing Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

Phuntsholing offers a relatively low cost of living, especially in terms of dining and grocery prices. Transportation costs are also affordable, with low taxi fares and gasoline prices.

While data on housing costs is not available, the overall affordability in other categories suggests that Phuntsholing could be a cost-effective place to live.

Residents can enjoy a variety of dining options at reasonable prices, and basic utilities are quite affordable compared to many other regions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Phuntsholing presents an affordable living environment with low costs in dining, groceries, and transportation. While housing data is lacking, the available information indicates a generally low cost of living.

Potential residents can benefit from the city's affordability, making it an attractive option for those looking to experience Bhutan's unique culture without a high financial burden.