The monthly consumption expenditure per person has almost doubled within the span of five years, according to the Bhutan Living Standards Survey 2012.
In 2003, the monthly consumption expenditure per person was about Nu.1,700. In 2007, it increased to about Nu. 2,700. In the recent Bhutan Living Standards Survey launched, today, the monthly consumption expenditure has increased almost two folds. This means, on an average, a person now spends about Nu. 4,000 a month on goods and services.
Similarly, the monthly expenditure of a Bhutanese household has also increased by two folds in the last five years. According to the survey, the average monthly household expenditure is now about Nu.18,000. In urban areas, the monthly expenditure is about Nu. 24,000, and it is Nu.15,000 in rural areas.
The ratio of urban per capita expenditure to rural and household expenditure has decreased due to this.
The survey also shows that overall electricity coverage is at 91 percent, with close to 100 percent urban coverage, and about 90 percent coverage in rural areas.
92 percent of the Bhutanese population own mobile phones, with 87 percent users in both rural and urban areas.
