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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Bhaktapur vs $496 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A couple spends around $639 per month in Bhaktapur vs $788 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A family of three spends $890 per month in Bhaktapur vs $1,080 in Kathmandu, rent included.

Bhaktapur is about 22% cheaper than Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bhaktapur and Kathmandu are more affordable than the global median – Bhaktapur 71% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 NPR 283

$1.77 NPR 270

5.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 NPR 2,861

$19.02 NPR 2,895

-1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.72 NPR 566

$6.67 NPR 1,015

-44.23%

Cappuccino

$1.01 NPR 153

$1.83 NPR 278

-44.81%

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

$0.53 NPR 81.3

$0.50 NPR 76.4

6.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 21.17

$0.17 NPR 26.50

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 NPR 284

$2.56 NPR 389

-26.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 NPR 281

$3.74 NPR 570

-50.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 NPR 108

$0.86 NPR 131

-17.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 NPR 77.6

$0.60 NPR 90.9

-15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 NPR 149

$0.99 NPR 151

-1.01%

Eggs

$1.86 NPR 283

$1.77 NPR 269

5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.75 NPR 570

$9.10 NPR 1,384

-58.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 NPR 475

$3.11 NPR 473

0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.96 NPR 907

$6.26 NPR 953

-4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 NPR 345

$2.18 NPR 332

4.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 NPR 159

$1.10 NPR 168

-5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.23 NPR 187

0.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.65 NPR 98.5

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.5

$0.49 NPR 74.4

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.72 NPR 110

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 NPR 62.9

$0.53 NPR 80.4

-22.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.13

$0.25 NPR 37.71

-8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 NPR 431

$2.89 NPR 439

-2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 NPR 899

$7.77 NPR 1,182

-24.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 NPR 326

$2.35 NPR 357

-8.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 NPR 380

$3.33 NPR 507

-24.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 NPR 23.62

$0.23 NPR 35.10

-30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 NPR 323

$2.22 NPR 337

-4.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 NPR 168

$1.10 NPR 167

0.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 NPR 559

$3.63 NPR 552

1.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 188

$1.23 NPR 188

0.81%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

-1.82%

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

$40.3K NPR 6.1M

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

-1.71%

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

$33.45 NPR 5,091

$33.55 NPR 5,106

-0.30%

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

$4.74 NPR 721

$5.01 NPR 763

-5.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.60 NPR 1,461

$9.37 NPR 1,426

2.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.98 NPR 2,737

$22.42 NPR 3,413

-19.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

Cinema Ticket

$3.06 NPR 467

$3.24 NPR 493

-5.56%

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

$17.99 NPR 2,738

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

-80.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,701 NPR 563.3K

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

-3.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.98 NPR 2,737

$24.41 NPR 3,715

-26.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.84 NPR 4,238

$28.40 NPR 4,322

-1.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.0 NPR 8,979

$58.5 NPR 8,907

0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.93 NPR 6,078

$39.72 NPR 6,046

0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 NPR 16.1K

$195 NPR 29.6K

-45.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.2 NPR 9,626

$100 NPR 15.2K

-36.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 NPR 31.4K

$346 NPR 52.7K

-40.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.3K

$188 NPR 28.7K

-22.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,312 NPR 351.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 NPR 206.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.8K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $106 in Bhaktapur versus $195 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: $129 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 27%, 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 $583 per month in Bhaktapur and $744 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 $389 in Bhaktapur and $496 in Kathmandu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $17.99 per month in Bhaktapur and $93.0 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 $389 in Bhaktapur and $496 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.