Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaighat and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Gaighat and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $398 in Gaighat versus $494 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $650 in Gaighat versus $789 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $902 in Gaighat versus $1,085 in Kathmandu.

Living in Gaighat costs roughly 20% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gaighat 70% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 NPR 283

$1.86 NPR 286

-1.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.05 NPR 2,927

$18.98 NPR 2,915

0.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 NPR 1,008

Cappuccino

$1.84 NPR 283

$1.84 NPR 282

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

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.54 NPR 83.3

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.27

$0.18 NPR 26.97

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 389

$2.66 NPR 409

-4.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 NPR 552

$3.54 NPR 544

1.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 NPR 91.7

$0.86 NPR 132

-30.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 NPR 32.11

$0.54 NPR 83.6

-61.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.37 NPR 57.3

$1.01 NPR 155

-63.37%

Eggs

$1.11 NPR 171

$1.79 NPR 274

-37.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.73 NPR 1,342

$8.75 NPR 1,344

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.14 NPR 328

$3.10 NPR 477

-30.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.98 NPR 457

$6.10 NPR 937

-51.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 NPR 277

$2.26 NPR 348

-20.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 167

$1.04 NPR 159

4.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 108

$1.25 NPR 193

-44.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.37 NPR 57.5

$0.70 NPR 108

-47.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 NPR 52.8

$0.49 NPR 74.7

-30.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 NPR 53.2

$0.73 NPR 112

-52.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 NPR 80.1

$0.49 NPR 74.6

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 25.66

$0.27 NPR 41.92

-37.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 NPR 341

$2.84 NPR 436

-21.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.82 NPR 587

$8.66 NPR 1,330

-55.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 NPR 229

$2.37 NPR 364

-37.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 NPR 499

$3.23 NPR 496

0.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.61

$0.23 NPR 35.47

-8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 NPR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 NPR 338

$2.23 NPR 343

-1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 NPR 162

$1.07 NPR 164

-1.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 573

$3.68 NPR 565

1.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 195

$1.23 NPR 189

3.25%

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$31.6K NPR 4.9M

2.70%

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

$40.7K NPR 6.3M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

0.18%

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

$32.60 NPR 5,008

$32.99 NPR 5,068

-1.18%

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

$4.75 NPR 730

$4.73 NPR 727

0.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.76 NPR 1,499

$9.72 NPR 1,494

0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.38 NPR 2,824

$22.35 NPR 3,433

-17.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.18 NPR 1,103

Cinema Ticket

$3.20 NPR 492

$3.24 NPR 498

-1.23%

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

$91.7 NPR 14.1K

$89.5 NPR 13.8K

2.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,820 NPR 586.7K

$3,834 NPR 588.9K

-0.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.43 NPR 3,753

$24.49 NPR 3,762

-0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.49 NPR 4,377

$27.56 NPR 4,233

3.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.6 NPR 9,005

$58.3 NPR 8,953

0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.33 NPR 6,196

$38.85 NPR 5,967

3.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 NPR 16.4K

$194 NPR 29.8K

-44.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.9 NPR 9,659

$100 NPR 15.4K

-37.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 31.3K

$342 NPR 52.5K

-40.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 NPR 22.3K

$188 NPR 28.9K

-22.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 NPR 348.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,322 NPR 203.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 NPR 42.6K

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 Gaighat: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Gaighat and $194 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Gaighat vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $107 vs $155 per month, with Gaighat 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

Gaighat vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gaighat and Kathmandu differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($398 vs $494 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $596 in Gaighat and $741 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: $107 in Gaighat versus $194 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $398 per month in Gaighat versus $494 in Kathmandu – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Gaighat 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, Gaighat 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 Gaighat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.