South Asia

Money, cards and tipping in Bhutan

Capital: ThimphuDzongkhaUpdated October 2026

BTNNgultrum

Money in Bhutan

Mixed: cards and cash Cards work at hotels and bigger shops in Thimphu and Paro; elsewhere use cash. Indian rupees are accepted at par, and US dollars widely. US$1 ≈ Nu.96.37 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Not obligatory but customary for guides and drivers at the end of a trip; small tips for hotel staff.
ATMs: Bank of Bhutan and Bhutan National Bank ATMs take Visa and Mastercard in towns; few in rural areas.
Paying by phone: goBoB (Bank of Bhutan) and MyPay wallets link to foreign cards and pay QR codes widely; need a local SIM.
Price level: about 23% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Thimphu	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at hotels and larger shops; cash for markets, cafés and taxis. Indian rupees accepted at par.
Paro	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards at hotels and bigger shops; cash for markets, cafés and taxis. Indian rupees accepted at par.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Bhutan?

Not obligatory but customary for guides and drivers at the end of a trip; small tips for hotel staff.

Is Bhutan cashless?

Mixed: cards and cash. Cards work at hotels and bigger shops in Thimphu and Paro; elsewhere use cash. Indian rupees are accepted at par, and US dollars widely.

What currency does Bhutan use?

The Ngultrum (BTN). US$1 ≈ Nu.96.37 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.