Bengaluru vs Punakha: cost of living for digital nomads
Bengaluru, India and Punakha, Bhutan, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Punakha is about 10% cheaper than Bengaluru for a month of nomad living ($925 vs $1,025).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $330 in Punakha against $400 in Bengaluru.
- Punakha scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Bengaluru: 200 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Bengaluru is tropical; Punakha is temperate.
Bengaluru wins 3 of the measured lines; Punakha wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Bengaluru or Punakha?
Punakha is cheaper: about $925/month against $1,025/month in Bengaluru, roughly 10% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Bengaluru or Punakha?
Punakha scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 6/10 for Bengaluru.
Which has faster internet, Bengaluru or Punakha?
Bengaluru has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Punakha.
| Line | Bengaluru | Punakha |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,025 | $925 |
| Rent | $400 | $330 |
| Food | $250 | $290 |
| Transport | $35 | $30 |
| Coworking | $110 | $60 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 200 | 40 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | inland | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 4/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Bengaluru September 11, 2026, Punakha September 11, 2026.