Cost of Living Comparison Between Birgunj and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Birgunj and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $386 in Birgunj versus $497 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in Birgunj versus $791 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $850 in Birgunj versus $1,084 in Kathmandu.

Living in Birgunj costs roughly 22% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Birgunj 71% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.48 NPR 225

$1.79 NPR 272

-17.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.28 NPR 2,933

$18.80 NPR 2,861

2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 NPR 991

$6.68 NPR 1,017

-2.54%

Cappuccino

$1.86 NPR 283

$1.92 NPR 292

-3.12%

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

$0.54 NPR 81.8

$0.50 NPR 75.9

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 21.97

$0.19 NPR 29.05

-26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 NPR 399

$2.60 NPR 396

0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 NPR 552

$3.72 NPR 566

-2.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.89 NPR 136

-21.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 NPR 42.66

$0.55 NPR 83.8

-49.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 NPR 101

$1.01 NPR 154

-34.65%

Eggs

$1.73 NPR 263

$1.79 NPR 272

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 NPR 1,237

$9.18 NPR 1,397

-11.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.59 NPR 394

$3.26 NPR 496

-20.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 948

$6.23 NPR 949

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 NPR 347

$2.20 NPR 335

3.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 166

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 190

$1.24 NPR 189

0.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 105

$0.64 NPR 97.9

7.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.0

$0.48 NPR 72.4

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 NPR 90.2

$0.72 NPR 109

-18.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.16 NPR 24.20

$0.52 NPR 79.3

-69.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.09

$0.27 NPR 41.41

-14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 NPR 282

$2.93 NPR 445

-36.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.03 NPR 1,222

$7.90 NPR 1,202

1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 348

$2.29 NPR 349

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 NPR 495

$3.34 NPR 509

-2.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 NPR 23.43

$0.21 NPR 31.81

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 NPR 323

$2.24 NPR 341

-5.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 NPR 169

$1.07 NPR 162

3.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 NPR 552

$3.54 NPR 539

2.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 NPR 179

$1.27 NPR 193

-7.09%

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

$32.7K NPR 5.0M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

4.01%

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

$40.7K NPR 6.2M

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

0.34%

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

$33.66 NPR 5,123

$33.35 NPR 5,074

0.93%

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

$3.66 NPR 557

$4.74 NPR 722

-22.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.41 NPR 1,432

$9.57 NPR 1,457

-1.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.54 NPR 2,212

$22.34 NPR 3,400

-34.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$2.20 NPR 335

$3.21 NPR 489

-31.46%

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

$90.7 NPR 13.8K

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

-1.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,741 NPR 569.3K

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

-1.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.56 NPR 3,737

$24.77 NPR 3,769

-0.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.59 NPR 4,198

$28.44 NPR 4,328

-2.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.48 NPR 4,486

$57.4 NPR 8,734

-48.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.24 NPR 2,775

$39.43 NPR 6,000

-53.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$38.14 NPR 5,804

$195 NPR 29.7K

-80.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$42.96 NPR 6,538

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

-56.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$137 NPR 20.9K

$346 NPR 52.6K

-60.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$85.9 NPR 13.1K

$184 NPR 28.0K

-53.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$645 NPR 98.2K

$2,286 NPR 347.9K

-71.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$494 NPR 75.1K

$1,329 NPR 202.2K

-62.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 NPR 42.4K

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 Birgunj: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $38.14 in Birgunj and $195 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Birgunj vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $156 per month, with Birgunj 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

Birgunj vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Birgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Birgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $580 in Birgunj and $746 in Kathmandu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $38.14 in Birgunj versus $195 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $90.7 in Birgunj versus $92.3 in Kathmandu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Either city works on $800 a month, though Birgunj 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.

Safety-wise, Birgunj and Kathmandu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Birgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.