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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $398 per month in Bhaktapur vs $494 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A couple spends around $649 per month in Bhaktapur vs $789 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A family of three spends $899 per month in Bhaktapur vs $1,085 in Kathmandu, rent included.

Bhaktapur is about 19% cheaper than Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bhaktapur and Kathmandu are more affordable than the global median – Bhaktapur 70% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.86 NPR 286

-3.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.73 NPR 2,878

$18.98 NPR 2,915

-1.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.71 NPR 570

$6.56 NPR 1,008

-43.45%

Cappuccino

$1.05 NPR 161

$1.84 NPR 282

-42.93%

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

$0.51 NPR 77.6

$0.54 NPR 83.3

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.73

$0.18 NPR 26.97

-27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 NPR 285

$2.66 NPR 409

-30.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 NPR 273

$3.54 NPR 544

-49.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 NPR 106

$0.86 NPR 132

-19.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 NPR 77.3

$0.54 NPR 83.6

-7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 NPR 146

$1.01 NPR 155

-5.94%

Eggs

$1.83 NPR 281

$1.79 NPR 274

2.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.61 NPR 554

$8.75 NPR 1,344

-58.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 NPR 475

$3.10 NPR 477

-0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.00 NPR 921

$6.10 NPR 937

-1.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 NPR 346

$2.26 NPR 348

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 161

$1.04 NPR 159

0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 184

$1.25 NPR 193

-4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.70 NPR 108

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 79.6

$0.49 NPR 74.7

6.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.73 NPR 112

-8.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 NPR 58.8

$0.49 NPR 74.6

-22.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.38

$0.27 NPR 41.92

-14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 NPR 440

$2.84 NPR 436

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.02 NPR 924

$8.66 NPR 1,330

-30.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 NPR 320

$2.37 NPR 364

-12.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 NPR 402

$3.23 NPR 496

-18.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 NPR 24.59

$0.23 NPR 35.47

-30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 NPR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 NPR 340

$2.23 NPR 343

-0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 163

$1.07 NPR 164

-0.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 NPR 555

$3.68 NPR 565

-1.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 195

$1.23 NPR 189

3.25%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$31.6K NPR 4.9M

-0.53%

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

$40.4K NPR 6.2M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

-0.58%

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

$33.31 NPR 5,116

$32.99 NPR 5,068

0.97%

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

$4.98 NPR 764

$4.73 NPR 727

5.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.73 NPR 1,494

$9.72 NPR 1,494

0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.27 NPR 2,806

$22.35 NPR 3,433

-18.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.18 NPR 1,103

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 NPR 469

$3.24 NPR 498

-5.86%

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

$18.07 NPR 2,776

$89.5 NPR 13.8K

-79.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,811 NPR 585.4K

$3,834 NPR 588.9K

-0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.41 NPR 2,828

$24.49 NPR 3,762

-24.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.10 NPR 4,317

$27.56 NPR 4,233

1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.7 NPR 9,022

$58.3 NPR 8,953

0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.21 NPR 6,177

$38.85 NPR 5,967

3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 NPR 16.3K

$194 NPR 29.8K

-45.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.3 NPR 9,875

$100 NPR 15.4K

-35.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 31.3K

$342 NPR 52.5K

-40.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 NPR 22.3K

$188 NPR 28.9K

-22.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 NPR 348.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,322 NPR 203.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 NPR 42.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

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

Last update for Bhaktapur: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $106 in Bhaktapur versus $194 in Kathmandu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Bhaktapur versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $128 vs $155 – making Bhaktapur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $597 per month in Bhaktapur and $741 in Kathmandu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhaktapur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $398 in Bhaktapur and $494 in Kathmandu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $18.07 per month in Bhaktapur and $89.5 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 $398 in Bhaktapur and $494 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.