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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $339 per month in Dharan vs $404 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

A couple spends around $554 per month in Dharan vs $669 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

A family of three spends $770 per month in Dharan vs $934 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

Dharan is about 16% cheaper than Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dharan and Nepalgunj are more affordable than the global median – Dharan 75% lower, Nepalgunj 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 NPR 325

$1.85 NPR 284

14.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.57 NPR 2,852

$18.88 NPR 2,901

-1.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 NPR 1,034

$6.45 NPR 991

4.34%

Cappuccino

$1.80 NPR 277

$1.54 NPR 237

16.88%

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

$0.33 NPR 49.99

$0.50 NPR 76.8

-34.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.08

$0.17 NPR 25.62

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 NPR 392

$2.54 NPR 390

0.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 NPR 548

$3.75 NPR 575

-4.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 NPR 110

$0.74 NPR 114

-4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 NPR 52.7

$0.54 NPR 83.5

-37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 NPR 114

$0.82 NPR 126

-9.76%

Eggs

$1.56 NPR 240

$1.71 NPR 263

-8.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.22 NPR 1,109

$7.61 NPR 1,168

-5.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 NPR 460

$3.19 NPR 490

-5.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.04 NPR 775

$6.23 NPR 957

-19.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 NPR 313

$2.26 NPR 347

-9.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 NPR 82.7

$1.09 NPR 168

-50.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 98.5

$1.24 NPR 190

-48.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 59.8

$0.69 NPR 106

-43.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 NPR 42.99

$0.49 NPR 75.0

-42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 81.7

$0.68 NPR 104

-22.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 81.5

$0.53 NPR 81.3

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.03

$0.27 NPR 41.81

-14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 NPR 438

$2.86 NPR 439

-0.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.92 NPR 448

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 NPR 346

$2.37 NPR 364

-5.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 489

$3.32 NPR 509

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.25

$0.19 NPR 28.73

21.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 NPR 326

$2.23 NPR 343

-4.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 NPR 118

$0.81 NPR 125

-4.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 NPR 574

$3.73 NPR 574

0.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 NPR 204

$1.28 NPR 196

3.91%

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

1.15%

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

$40.7K NPR 6.2M

$40.0K NPR 6.1M

1.81%

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

$26.71 NPR 4,103

$26.88 NPR 4,129

-0.63%

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

$4.74 NPR 729

$4.82 NPR 740

-1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.73 NPR 1,801

$9.35 NPR 1,436

25.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.51 NPR 1,921

$18.50 NPR 2,842

-32.38%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 NPR 445

$2.65 NPR 407

9.43%

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

$22.20 NPR 3,410

$72.6 NPR 11.1K

-69.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,760 NPR 424.0K

$2,689 NPR 413.1K

2.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.81 NPR 1,967

$25.10 NPR 3,855

-48.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.50 NPR 4,224

$27.84 NPR 4,277

-1.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.15 NPR 4,477

$46.34 NPR 7,119

-37.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.95 NPR 5,062

$28.94 NPR 4,446

13.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$39.61 NPR 6,085

$105 NPR 16.1K

-62.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$20.34 NPR 3,124

$64.3 NPR 9,876

-68.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$88.6 NPR 13.6K

$207 NPR 31.9K

-57.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$54.2 NPR 8,322

$146 NPR 22.4K

-62.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$131 NPR 20.2K

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

32.48%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $39.61 in Dharan versus $105 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 32% 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: $120 vs $133 – 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 19% 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 $508 per month in Dharan and $605 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 11% 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 $339 in Dharan and $404 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.