Bhutan
A Himalayan kingdom that prices tourism by design: a daily fee keeps visitor numbers low.
Slightly cheaper. The exchange rate moved +5.8%; local prices rose +5.3%.
- Lean
- $146
- Comfort
- $537
Ranked 95 of 123.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Bhutan: 4.0% cheaper for US-dollar travelers than a year ago, after adjusting for inflation. A mid-range day costs about $273 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 1 (normal precautions). It ranks 95 of 123 on the Trip Arbitrage Index, with a score of 52 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 65
- Price floor ×0.30
- 0
- Safety ×0.20
- 100
- Ease ×0.14
- 60
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | −2.2% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +4.0% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +5.8% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +5.3% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | +13.2% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 1 | Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 3.4 / 5 | Workable |
- Tiger's Nest monastery
- Valleys with no crowds
- Guides, drivers and hotels of a high standard
Most visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee of $100 per night on top of everything else, which sets a high floor under any budget.
The ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee, and the daily visitor fee is set in US dollars, so currency moves change the bill less than they would elsewhere.
When to go
November is peak season- Janoff season
- Feboff season
- Marpeak season
- Aprpeak season
- Maypeak season
- Junoff season
- Juloff season
- Augoff season
- Sepshoulder season
- Octpeak season
- Novpeak season
- Decshoulder season
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 1: Normal precautions · updated September 3, 2026
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Workable · 3.4 / 5
Head to head
- Bhutan vs Maldives$233a day there
- Bhutan vs Sri Lanka$59a day there
- Bhutan vs India$53a day there
Booking a trip: Bhutan
Partner links- FlightsKiwi.com ↗Compare fares across airlines, including the low-cost carriers that booking sites often leave out.
- Places to stayBooking.com ↗Hotels, guesthouses and apartments, most with free cancellation.
- Mobile dataAiralo ↗An eSIM you install before you land, usually far cheaper than roaming.
- Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing ↗Covers emergencies abroad; can be bought after you have already left home.
- Spending moneyWise ↗A multi-currency card that converts at the mid-market rate, the one this index uses.
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide ↗Day trips, guides and entry tickets, bookable ahead with free cancellation on most.
These go to outside companies we think are useful for this trip. Nothing here affects a score or a ranking. How we make money
Bhutan, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Bhutan?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Bhutan costs about $146 on a lean budget, $273 mid-range and $537 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Bhutan cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- Yes. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved +5.8% for US-dollar holders while prices in Bhutan rose +5.3%, a net real change of +4.0% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Bhutan is 13.2% cheaper.
- Is Bhutan safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Bhutan at Level 1: Normal precautions. Most visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee of $100 per night on top of everything else, which sets a high floor under any budget. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Bhutan?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are: September, December. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in: March, April, May, October, November. Right now (November) is peak season.
- How easy is Bhutan to travel around?
- Bhutan scores 3.4 out of 5 for ease of travel (workable), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. A Himalayan kingdom that prices tourism by design: a daily fee keeps visitor numbers low.
Elsewhere in South Asia
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Bhutan reads +4.0% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $273. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.