Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhaktapur and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Bhaktapur and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $296 per month in Bhaktapur vs $484 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A couple spends around $499 per month in Bhaktapur vs $773 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A family of three spends $702 per month in Bhaktapur vs $1,063 in Kathmandu, rent included.

Bhaktapur is about 39% cheaper than Kathmandu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bhaktapur and Kathmandu are more affordable than the global median – Bhaktapur 78% lower, Kathmandu 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 NPR 294

$1.94 NPR 294

0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.72 NPR 3,135

$20.08 NPR 3,038

3.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.21 NPR 486

$6.74 NPR 1,020

-52.37%

Cappuccino

$0.88 NPR 133

$1.54 NPR 234

-42.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 NPR 82.3

$0.56 NPR 84.4

-3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.15

$0.15 NPR 23.03

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 NPR 243

$3.23 NPR 489

-50.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 NPR 251

$3.67 NPR 556

-54.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 NPR 99.3

$0.76 NPR 115

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 NPR 74.4

$0.63 NPR 95.2

-22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 NPR 133

$0.86 NPR 130

2.33%

Eggs

$1.69 NPR 256

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 NPR 511

$7.26 NPR 1,098

-53.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 NPR 512

$3.40 NPR 515

-0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.29 NPR 801

$5.21 NPR 788

1.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 NPR 308

$2.07 NPR 313

-1.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 166

$1.15 NPR 174

-4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 NPR 195

$1.41 NPR 213

-8.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 NPR 82.6

$0.57 NPR 86.7

-3.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 NPR 63.5

$0.38 NPR 58.1

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.5

$0.52 NPR 78.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 NPR 56.6

$0.49 NPR 74.6

-24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.58

$0.25 NPR 37.98

-28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 NPR 394

$2.70 NPR 408

-3.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 NPR 893

$7.94 NPR 1,201

-25.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 355

$2.23 NPR 337

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 NPR 255

$3.00 NPR 454

-43.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 NPR 289

$2.02 NPR 305

-5.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 NPR 202

$1.34 NPR 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 502

$3.32 NPR 503

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 NPR 206

$1.41 NPR 213

-3.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K NPR 4.5M

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

0.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.7K NPR 5.6M

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

0.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$32.14 NPR 4,862

$31.68 NPR 4,793

1.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.37 NPR 510

$3.38 NPR 511

-0.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.71 NPR 1,167

$8.12 NPR 1,228

-5.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,406

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 NPR 459

$2.98 NPR 451

1.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$67.1 NPR 10.2K

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,747 NPR 718.2K

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

-1.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.79 NPR 4,053

$26.37 NPR 3,990

1.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.57 NPR 4,322

$28.67 NPR 4,337

-0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.5 NPR 10.2K

$65.9 NPR 9,967

2.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.72 NPR 4,497

$30.44 NPR 4,605

-2.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 NPR 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 NPR 66.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 30.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,289 NPR 346.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bhaktapur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Bhaktapur versus $20.00 in Kathmandu. Groceries tell a different story – $122 in Bhaktapur vs $144 in Kathmandu – so Bhaktapur wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bhaktapur vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kathmandu is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $445 per month in Bhaktapur and $725 in Kathmandu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $296 in Bhaktapur and $484 in Kathmandu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $67.1 per month in Bhaktapur and $67.1 in Kathmandu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $296 in Bhaktapur and $484 in Kathmandu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bhaktapur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bhaktapur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kathmandu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.