Cost of Living Comparison Between Biratnagar and Nepalgunj Cost of Living Comparison Between Biratnagar and Nepalgunj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $321 in Biratnagar versus $171 in Nepalgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $525 in Biratnagar versus $285 in Nepalgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $728 in Biratnagar versus $398 in Nepalgunj.

Living in Biratnagar is roughly 88% more expensive than in Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar 77% lower, Nepalgunj 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.53 NPR 231

$3.35 NPR 507

-54.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.97 NPR 2,114

$8.10 NPR 1,226

72.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 NPR 1,175

$6.46 NPR 977

20.28%

Cappuccino

$1.20 NPR 181

$1.66 NPR 251

-27.71%

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

$0.34 NPR 51.8

$0.52 NPR 78.5

-34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 NPR 229

$2.35 NPR 356

-35.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NPR 331

$3.38 NPR 511

-35.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.57 NPR 85.9

$0.63 NPR 95.9

-9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 NPR 57.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 96.2

$0.54 NPR 81.7

18.52%

Eggs

$1.26 NPR 190

$0.81 NPR 123

55.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.53 NPR 686

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 NPR 400

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.18 NPR 481

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 NPR 293

$2.03 NPR 306

-4.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 NPR 125

$0.64 NPR 97.1

29.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 NPR 204

$0.68 NPR 102

98.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.8

$0.63 NPR 95.0

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 NPR 54.8

$0.20 NPR 30.06

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 NPR 71.1

$0.25 NPR 37.48

88.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 NPR 41.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 NPR 43.87

$0.18 NPR 27.24

61.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NPR 393

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 NPR 253

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 NPR 353

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NPR 20.13

$0.34 NPR 51.9

-61.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.90 NPR 1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 NPR 296

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 NPR 357

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 NPR 180

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

$21.4K NPR 3.2M

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

$4.13 NPR 625

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.32 NPR 1,409

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.04 NPR 4,243

$9.73 NPR 1,472

188.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.99 NPR 301

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 NPR 478

$2.66 NPR 403

18.80%

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

$48.06 NPR 7,271

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,768 NPR 267.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.75 NPR 3,140

$19.85 NPR 3,002

4.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.97 NPR 4,988

$26.69 NPR 4,037

23.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$24.24 NPR 3,666

$12.94 NPR 1,958

87.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.07 NPR 4,549

$20.06 NPR 3,035

49.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$46.58 NPR 7,046

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$51.8 NPR 7,842

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$132 NPR 20.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.4 NPR 14.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$388 NPR 58.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$260 NPR 39.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 NPR 24.6K

$98.3 NPR 14.9K

65.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Biratnagar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Biratnagar pays 65% 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 $95.0 vs $35.00 per month, with Nepalgunj cheaper across the board.

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 & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 65% 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 174% 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 88% less than in Biratnagar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.