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: $387 in Biratnagar versus $393 in Nepalgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $644 in Biratnagar versus $665 in Nepalgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $901 in Biratnagar versus $937 in Nepalgunj.

Living in Biratnagar costs roughly 2% less than in Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Biratnagar 71% lower, Nepalgunj 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 NPR 253

$1.83 NPR 279

-9.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.92 NPR 2,728

$18.98 NPR 2,889

-5.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 NPR 1,282

$6.67 NPR 1,015

26.24%

Cappuccino

$1.50 NPR 229

$1.56 NPR 238

-3.85%

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

$0.38 NPR 57.4

$0.54 NPR 82.1

-29.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 NPR 29.71

$0.17 NPR 25.36

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 NPR 246

$2.57 NPR 390

-37.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 NPR 392

$3.58 NPR 545

-27.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 NPR 103

$0.73 NPR 112

-6.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 NPR 65.1

$0.58 NPR 89.0

-25.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 NPR 107

$0.82 NPR 125

-13.41%

Eggs

$1.40 NPR 213

$1.67 NPR 254

-16.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 NPR 797

$7.51 NPR 1,144

-30.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 NPR 447

$3.12 NPR 475

-6.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.39 NPR 516

$6.21 NPR 945

-45.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 NPR 340

$2.27 NPR 346

-1.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 NPR 128

$1.09 NPR 166

-22.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 NPR 226

$1.19 NPR 182

25.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 NPR 88.4

$0.70 NPR 106

-17.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.40 NPR 61.0

$0.48 NPR 73.5

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.8

$0.67 NPR 103

-22.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.7

$0.49 NPR 74.1

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 NPR 48.20

$0.27 NPR 41.44

18.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 NPR 435

$2.84 NPR 432

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 349

$2.37 NPR 361

-3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 NPR 501

$3.27 NPR 497

0.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 NPR 23.07

$0.20 NPR 29.91

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.94 NPR 1,969

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 NPR 334

$2.19 NPR 333

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 125

$0.83 NPR 126

-1.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 NPR 381

$3.73 NPR 567

-32.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 NPR 190

$1.23 NPR 188

1.63%

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

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

0.07%

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

$39.9K NPR 6.1M

$41.3K NPR 6.3M

-3.54%

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

$26.64 NPR 4,055

$26.82 NPR 4,082

-0.67%

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

$4.72 NPR 719

$4.78 NPR 727

-1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.10 NPR 1,538

$9.50 NPR 1,446

6.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.54 NPR 2,821

$18.44 NPR 2,806

0.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.17 NPR 330

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 NPR 522

$2.76 NPR 420

24.28%

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

$53.4 NPR 8,128

$71.2 NPR 10.8K

-24.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 NPR 299.6K

$2,764 NPR 420.7K

-28.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.03 NPR 3,811

$24.38 NPR 3,710

2.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.75 NPR 5,441

$27.57 NPR 4,196

29.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.21 NPR 4,142

$45.17 NPR 6,875

-39.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.65 NPR 4,970

$28.72 NPR 4,372

13.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 NPR 16.2K

$104 NPR 15.8K

2.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.6 NPR 8,917

$64.0 NPR 9,740

-8.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 NPR 31.3K

$203 NPR 30.8K

1.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 NPR 21.7K

$145 NPR 22.1K

-1.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$388 NPR 59.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$261 NPR 39.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 NPR 25.0K

$98.3 NPR 15.0K

67.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

15.89%

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

Last update for Biratnagar: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Biratnagar and $104 in Nepalgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Biratnagar pays 67% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Biratnagar vs $19.00 in Nepalgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $111 vs $132 per month, with Biratnagar 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

Biratnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Biratnagar pays 67% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $106 in Biratnagar versus $104 in Nepalgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $53.4 in Biratnagar versus $71.2 in Nepalgunj. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Biratnagar – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $19.00 in Nepalgunj. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Biratnagar 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 Biratnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Nepalgunj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.