Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharan and Nepalgunj Cost of Living Comparison Between Dharan and Nepalgunj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $333 per month in Dharan vs $393 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

A couple spends around $554 per month in Dharan vs $665 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

A family of three spends $776 per month in Dharan vs $937 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

Dharan is about 15% cheaper than Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dharan and Nepalgunj are more affordable than the global median – Dharan 75% lower, Nepalgunj 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 NPR 341

$1.83 NPR 279

22.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.66 NPR 2,840

$18.98 NPR 2,889

-1.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 NPR 1,007

$6.67 NPR 1,015

-0.75%

Cappuccino

$1.81 NPR 275

$1.56 NPR 238

16.03%

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

$0.35 NPR 53.5

$0.54 NPR 82.1

-35.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.72

$0.17 NPR 25.36

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.62 NPR 399

$2.57 NPR 390

1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 NPR 542

$3.58 NPR 545

-0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.73 NPR 112

-1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 NPR 52.8

$0.58 NPR 89.0

-39.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.82 NPR 125

-12.20%

Eggs

$1.54 NPR 234

$1.67 NPR 254

-7.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 NPR 1,149

$7.51 NPR 1,144

0.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.87 NPR 437

$3.12 NPR 475

-8.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 NPR 800

$6.21 NPR 945

-15.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 NPR 299

$2.27 NPR 346

-13.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 86.8

$1.09 NPR 166

-47.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.0

$1.19 NPR 182

-46.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 58.0

$0.70 NPR 106

-45.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 NPR 42.24

$0.48 NPR 73.5

-41.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 73.8

$0.67 NPR 103

-26.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.5

$0.49 NPR 74.1

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 NPR 32.19

$0.27 NPR 41.44

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 NPR 453

$2.84 NPR 432

4.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.93 NPR 446

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 356

$2.37 NPR 361

-1.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 NPR 512

$3.27 NPR 497

2.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.56

$0.20 NPR 29.91

-5.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 336

$2.19 NPR 333

0.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 NPR 122

$0.83 NPR 126

-3.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 NPR 562

$3.73 NPR 567

-1.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 NPR 201

$1.23 NPR 188

7.32%

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

$32.4K NPR 4.9M

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

2.80%

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

$40.8K NPR 6.2M

$41.3K NPR 6.3M

-1.37%

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

$27.04 NPR 4,116

$26.82 NPR 4,082

0.82%

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

$4.90 NPR 747

$4.78 NPR 727

2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.45 NPR 1,743

$9.50 NPR 1,446

20.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.88 NPR 1,961

$18.44 NPR 2,806

-30.15%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 NPR 438

$2.76 NPR 420

4.35%

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

$21.79 NPR 3,317

$71.2 NPR 10.8K

-69.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,694 NPR 410.0K

$2,764 NPR 420.7K

-2.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.66 NPR 1,927

$24.38 NPR 3,710

-48.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 NPR 4,131

$27.57 NPR 4,196

-1.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.17 NPR 4,441

$45.17 NPR 6,875

-35.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.40 NPR 5,083

$28.72 NPR 4,372

16.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$39.47 NPR 6,007

$104 NPR 15.8K

-61.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$20.34 NPR 3,096

$64.0 NPR 9,740

-68.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$88.6 NPR 13.5K

$203 NPR 30.8K

-56.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.1 NPR 8,240

$145 NPR 22.1K

-62.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$98.3 NPR 15.0K

87.38%

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 Dharan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $39.47 in Dharan versus $104 in Nepalgunj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 87% higher in Dharan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dharan versus $19.00 in Nepalgunj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $132 – making Dharan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Dharan vs Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nepalgunj costs about 18% more than Dharan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $499 per month in Dharan and $590 in Nepalgunj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dharan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Dharan and $19.00 in Nepalgunj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Nepalgunj, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $333 in Dharan and $393 in Nepalgunj, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Dharan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dharan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nepalgunj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.