The headline equates Thimphu to Bhutan. It is quite misleading.

Yes, in the capital city the impossible housing market has priced out much of the Bhutanese population. That’s another issue all together.

But here, I want to argue that elsewhere in the country, it is still possible to build and own a home, as long as you are not rushing to the urban towns or the priciest spots or being too choosy about what kind of houses you want. And as long as you follow my late mother’s advice: don’t try to match up with the rich and powerful. Find your own place, know where you stand, and you will find peace everywhere.

A modest traditional house in the outskirts of Paro, Phuntsholing, or Gelephu is still within the reach of a middle-income household. However, it requires some financing schemes from the bank, which for now don’t exist.

Still, it is not all gloom and doom in the rest of Bhutan—or in Bhutan, in general. Your life is not wasted because you don’t own a building in Thimphu.

Furthermore, connectivity in terms of roads and internet and car ownership has drastically improved in the last two decades so that you don’t have to live in Norzin Lam (the priciest spot in the country). Bumthang is beautiful; eastern Bhutan is warm with hospitality; and southern Bhutan is great to retire in because of mild weather.

I am in Gelephu these days, and I see many opportunities cropping up. Phuntsholing and Samdrup Jongkhar will surely rebound. These places offer lower construction costs too. Prices for a plot can be between Nu. 500,000 and 1 million. With another million and lots of hard work, you can build a decent 2-bedroom house. But you need to move fast and detach yourself from the fixation of Thimphu.

Practical advice from me
Those who are retiring and those who are starting off their careers should consider moving to Gelephu or to places that are growing like Samtse and Nganglam. For the oldies, it is good for the bones. For the young, unless you have a birth lottery, Thimphu will keep you in perennial poverty.