Cost of Living Comparison Between Butwal and Nepalgunj Cost of Living Comparison Between Butwal and Nepalgunj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $368 in Butwal versus $392 in Nepalgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $632 in Butwal versus $653 in Nepalgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $895 in Butwal versus $914 in Nepalgunj.

Living in Butwal costs roughly 6% less than in Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Butwal 73% lower, Nepalgunj 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 268

$1.84 NPR 279

-3.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.74 NPR 2,836

$18.66 NPR 2,825

0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 NPR 975

$6.65 NPR 1,007

-3.16%

Cappuccino

$1.49 NPR 226

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

$0.50 NPR 75.9

$0.53 NPR 80.5

-5.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.11 NPR 16.74

$0.19 NPR 28.12

-42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 NPR 380

$2.53 NPR 383

-0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 NPR 312

$3.67 NPR 555

-43.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 NPR 108

$0.75 NPR 113

-5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 NPR 74.9

$0.58 NPR 88.4

-15.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 NPR 119

$0.77 NPR 117

1.30%

Eggs

$1.43 NPR 217

$1.64 NPR 249

-12.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 NPR 1,379

$7.60 NPR 1,150

19.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 NPR 485

$3.11 NPR 471

2.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 NPR 949

$6.02 NPR 912

4.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 NPR 347

$2.18 NPR 330

5.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 130

$1.08 NPR 164

-20.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 NPR 186

$1.21 NPR 183

1.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.65 NPR 97.8

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 73.9

$0.45 NPR 68.0

8.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 NPR 111

$0.64 NPR 96.5

14.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 75.6

$0.53 NPR 79.7

-5.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.07

$0.27 NPR 41.03

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 NPR 431

$2.88 NPR 436

-1.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.61 NPR 1,001

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 NPR 340

$2.29 NPR 346

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 NPR 332

$3.20 NPR 484

-31.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 NPR 25.08

$0.23 NPR 34.06

-26.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 NPR 1,341

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 NPR 283

$2.22 NPR 335

-15.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.80 NPR 122

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 NPR 443

$3.71 NPR 561

-21.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 192

$1.23 NPR 187

3.25%

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

$32.1K NPR 4.9M

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

-0.05%

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

$27.4K NPR 4.1M

$41.1K NPR 6.2M

-33.49%

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

$14.63 NPR 2,215

$26.90 NPR 4,072

-45.61%

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

$4.79 NPR 724

$4.93 NPR 746

-2.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.50 NPR 1,438

$9.79 NPR 1,483

-2.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.45 NPR 2,188

$18.06 NPR 2,734

-19.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.90 NPR 1,650

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 NPR 479

$2.69 NPR 407

17.47%

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

$24.07 NPR 3,644

$73.0 NPR 11.0K

-67.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$889 NPR 134.7K

$2,788 NPR 422.1K

-68.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.26 NPR 3,824

$24.70 NPR 3,739

2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 NPR 4,159

$27.45 NPR 4,155

0.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.51 NPR 5,527

$45.35 NPR 6,866

-19.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.71 NPR 3,590

$28.47 NPR 4,309

-16.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$51.6 NPR 7,815

$105 NPR 15.9K

-50.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$31.41 NPR 4,755

$62.8 NPR 9,502

-49.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.1K

$208 NPR 31.4K

-29.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 NPR 17.4K

$143 NPR 21.7K

-19.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K NPR 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$122 NPR 18.5K

$100 NPR 15.2K

21.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-0.66%

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

Last update for Butwal: April 28, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $51.6 in Butwal and $105 in Nepalgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Butwal pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Butwal vs $19.00 in Nepalgunj. Groceries flip the comparison at $145 vs $131, with Nepalgunj cheaper for home cooking.

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

Butwal vs Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butwal wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Nepalgunj. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butwal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Butwal pays 22% 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: $51.6 in Butwal versus $105 in Nepalgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $24.07 in Butwal versus $73.0 in Nepalgunj. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Either city works on $800 a month, though Butwal 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 Butwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Nepalgunj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.