😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $455 in Chandigarh versus $384 in Birgunj.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $739 in Chandigarh versus $620 in Birgunj.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,023 in Chandigarh versus $856 in Birgunj.
😐Living in Chandigarh is roughly 18% more expensive than Birgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chandigarh66% lower, Birgunj71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16₹301
$1.43NPR 217
120.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.21₹1,354
$18.86NPR 2,871
-24.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.41₹325
$6.68NPR 1,017
-48.95%
Cappuccino
$2.00₹191
$1.86NPR 283
7.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₹37.33
$0.54NPR 81.6
-27.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₹19.03
$0.14NPR 21.88
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71₹163
$2.58NPR 393
-33.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93₹279
$3.68NPR 561
-20.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.77₹73.5
$0.69NPR 106
11.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58₹55.7
$0.26NPR 39.48
123.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90₹85.5
$0.68NPR 103
32.35%
Eggs
$1.06₹101
$1.74NPR 265
-39.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.45₹519
$7.81NPR 1,188
-30.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03₹289
$2.59NPR 394
16.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$6.04NPR 920
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.99₹189
$2.26NPR 344
-11.95%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81₹77.6
$1.04NPR 159
-22.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.7
$1.20NPR 182
-19.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56₹53.7
$0.64NPR 97.6
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40₹37.66
$0.48NPR 72.5
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46₹43.68
$0.62NPR 95.0
-25.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49₹46.64
$0.16NPR 24.86
206.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32₹30.24
$0.23NPR 35.13
39.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01₹382
$1.86NPR 283
115.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.79₹932
$7.93NPR 1,207
23.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72₹164
$2.33NPR 354
-26.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹263
$3.24NPR 493
-14.81%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.28₹503
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30₹28.76
$0.14NPR 20.98
114.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.50₹810
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78₹74.3
$2.22NPR 338
-64.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₹22.99
$1.10NPR 167
-78.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.30₹123
$3.61NPR 550
-63.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₹110
$1.22NPR 186
-5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.5K₹1.4M
$32.6KNPR 5.0M
-55.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K₹2.8M
$41.1KNPR 6.3M
-29.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.95₹4,567
$33.23NPR 5,058
44.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.47₹330
$3.61NPR 550
-3.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.14₹680
$9.91NPR 1,509
-27.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.33₹1,842
$14.34NPR 2,183
34.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.12₹964
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.88₹274
$2.23NPR 339
29.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$61.9₹5,897
$90.4NPR 13.8K
-31.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,968₹187.5K
$3,822NPR 581.7K
-48.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.50₹2,334
$25.26NPR 3,844
-3.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.07₹2,293
$27.58NPR 4,198
-12.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.81₹4,649
$28.79NPR 4,383
69.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.30₹3,077
$18.31NPR 2,786
76.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$174₹16.6K
$37.97NPR 5,780
359.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$104₹9,874
$44.41NPR 6,760
133.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$403₹38.4K
$136NPR 20.7K
196.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$271₹25.8K
$88.4NPR 13.5K
206.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,407₹324.6K
$664NPR 101.0K
413.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069₹197.1K
$493NPR 75.0K
319.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chandigarh
Birgunj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$435₹41.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.3
12.08
-31.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chandigarh: May 30, 2026
Last update for Birgunj: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $174 in Chandigarh and $37.97 in Birgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Chandigarh vs $19.00 in Birgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $139 per month, with Chandigarh 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
Chandigarh vs Birgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chandigarh or Birgunj?
Birgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Chandigarh. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Birgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chandigarh vs Birgunj?
You'd need roughly $682 in Chandigarh and $576 in Birgunj 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chandigarh vs Birgunj?
Rent for a central apartment: $174 in Chandigarh versus $37.97 in Birgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Chandigarh and Birgunj?
Childcare runs $61.9 in Chandigarh versus $90.4 in Birgunj. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Chandigarh vs Birgunj?
Dining out is cheaper in Birgunj – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $14.00 in Chandigarh. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Chandigarh or Birgunj?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chandigarh or Birgunj?
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.
How safe is Chandigarh compared to Birgunj?
Safety-wise, Chandigarh and Birgunj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Birgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Chandigarh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chandigarh vs other spots: cost of living compared