Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Biratnagar and Nepalgunj

For one person, living is cheaper in Nepalgunj: $172 a month against $319 in Biratnagar, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

15

Cost of Living Index in Biratnagar
Learn more

Biratnagar Living Index
20

Cost of Living Index in Nepalgunj
Learn more

Nepalgunj Living Index

Jump to prices

Biratnagar

🇳🇵 Nepal

$319

/mo nomad

Nepalgunj

🇳🇵 Nepal

$172

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Biratnagar and in Nepalgunj

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Biratnagar and in Nepalgunj actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $319 in Biratnagar versus $172 in Nepalgunj.

Biratnagar $319
Nepalgunj $172

Estimated couple costs with rent: $524 in Biratnagar versus $289 in Nepalgunj.

Biratnagar $524
Nepalgunj $289

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $730 in Biratnagar versus $405 in Nepalgunj.

Biratnagar $730
Nepalgunj $405

Living in Biratnagar is roughly 85% more expensive than in Nepalgunj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar 76% lower, Nepalgunj 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 NPR 229

$3.27 NPR 498

-53.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.13 NPR 2,147

$8.06 NPR 1,225

75.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 NPR 1,172

$6.51 NPR 989

18.43%

Cappuccino

$1.19 NPR 181

$1.64 NPR 249

-27.44%

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

$0.34 NPR 52.1

$0.51 NPR 77.3

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 21.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 NPR 226

$2.25 NPR 341

-33.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 NPR 327

$3.28 NPR 498

-34.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 NPR 86.1

$0.69 NPR 105

-17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 NPR 58.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.0

$0.54 NPR 82.1

18.52%

Eggs

$1.20 NPR 182

$0.77 NPR 117

55.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 NPR 683

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 NPR 405

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.14 NPR 477

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 NPR 306

$1.93 NPR 294

4.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 NPR 113

$0.63 NPR 96.4

17.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 NPR 196

$0.68 NPR 103

89.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.3

$0.69 NPR 105

-28.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 59.7

$0.18 NPR 26.83

116.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 NPR 65.1

$0.25 NPR 37.72

72.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 NPR 41.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 NPR 41.89

$0.16 NPR 24.16

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 NPR 388

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 NPR 243

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 NPR 354

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 NPR 26.16

$0.34 NPR 52.0

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 NPR 1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 NPR 293

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 NPR 353

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 NPR 181

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

$21.2K NPR 3.2M

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

$4.23 NPR 643

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.08 NPR 1,379

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.91 NPR 4,240

$9.68 NPR 1,471

188.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.99 NPR 303

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 NPR 476

$2.57 NPR 390

22.18%

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

$47.49 NPR 7,216

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,727 NPR 262.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.02 NPR 3,042

$20.01 NPR 3,040

0.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.54 NPR 4,945

$26.46 NPR 4,021

22.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.35 NPR 3,699

$13.01 NPR 1,977

87.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.47 NPR 4,477

$19.49 NPR 2,962

51.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$46.59 NPR 7,079

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.5 NPR 7,981

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$129 NPR 19.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$397 NPR 60.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$260 NPR 39.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$160 NPR 24.3K

$97.8 NPR 14.9K

63.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Biratnagar: October 20, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Biratnagar

$94 * 29.6%

Nepalgunj

$35 * 20.2% 63.2% $60

Eating Out

Biratnagar

$63 * 19.6%

Nepalgunj

$86 49.8% 37% $23

Accommodation & Living

Biratnagar

$53 16.5%

Nepalgunj

- * 0% 100%

Clothing & Footwear

Biratnagar

$48 15%

Nepalgunj

$36 20.6% 25.8% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Biratnagar

$34 10.7%

Nepalgunj

$15 8.6% 56.6% $19

Getting Around

Biratnagar

$14 * 4.5%

Nepalgunj

$1.4 * 0.8% 90.5% $13

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Biratnagar

$13 * 4.2%

Nepalgunj

- * 0% 100%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Biratnagar pays 64% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Biratnagar vs $8.00 in Nepalgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $94.0 vs $35.00 per month, with Nepalgunj cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇳🇵 Biratnagar

🇳🇵 Nepalgunj

🕒 Local time

16:35 4:35 PM

Same time as Biratnagar

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

166,674

72,503

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.58 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.85 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.58 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.85 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Biratnagar Nepalgunj 590 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Biratnagar
Nepalgunj

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Biratnagar vs Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nepalgunj is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 64% higher in Biratnagar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 172% higher in Biratnagar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Nepalgunj – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $14.00 in Biratnagar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nepalgunj gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Nepalgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Biratnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.