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: $301 in Gaighat versus $484 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $498 in Gaighat versus $773 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $694 in Gaighat versus $1,063 in Kathmandu.

Living in Gaighat costs roughly 38% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gaighat 78% lower, Kathmandu 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 NPR 301

$1.94 NPR 294

2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.08 NPR 3,037

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 NPR 972

$6.74 NPR 1,020

-4.60%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 233

$1.54 NPR 234

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

$0.56 NPR 84.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.54

$0.15 NPR 23.02

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 NPR 509

$3.23 NPR 489

4.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 NPR 545

$3.67 NPR 556

-1.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 NPR 78.1

$0.76 NPR 115

-31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.22 NPR 33.12

$0.63 NPR 95.2

-65.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.32 NPR 48.40

$0.86 NPR 130

-62.79%

Eggs

$1.01 NPR 152

$1.69 NPR 256

-40.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 NPR 1,142

$7.26 NPR 1,098

3.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.00 NPR 303

$3.40 NPR 515

-41.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.69 NPR 406

$5.21 NPR 788

-48.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 NPR 255

$2.07 NPR 313

-18.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 NPR 171

$1.15 NPR 174

-1.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 104

$1.41 NPR 213

-51.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.34 NPR 52.1

$0.57 NPR 86.7

-40.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.32 NPR 47.85

$0.38 NPR 58.1

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 NPR 47.64

$0.52 NPR 78.0

-40.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.4

$0.49 NPR 74.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 21.01

$0.25 NPR 37.97

-44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 NPR 305

$2.70 NPR 408

-25.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.95 NPR 598

$7.94 NPR 1,201

-50.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 NPR 204

$2.23 NPR 337

-39.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 NPR 436

$3.00 NPR 454

-4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 NPR 306

$2.02 NPR 305

0.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 NPR 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 502

$3.32 NPR 503

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 NPR 206

$1.41 NPR 213

-3.55%

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

$29.9K NPR 4.5M

$29.4K NPR 4.4M

1.76%

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

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

-0.03%

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

$31.24 NPR 4,725

$31.68 NPR 4,792

-1.39%

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

$3.32 NPR 502

$3.38 NPR 511

-1.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.81 NPR 1,181

$8.12 NPR 1,228

-3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,405

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 NPR 439

$2.98 NPR 451

-2.68%

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

$66.2 NPR 10.0K

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

-1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,774 NPR 722.1K

$4,824 NPR 729.6K

-1.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.66 NPR 4,032

$26.37 NPR 3,989

1.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.86 NPR 4,365

$28.67 NPR 4,336

0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 NPR 10.2K

$65.9 NPR 9,965

1.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.40 NPR 4,447

$30.44 NPR 4,604

-3.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 NPR 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 NPR 66.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 30.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,289 NPR 346.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

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

Last update for Gaighat: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Gaighat vs $20.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $144 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 60% in total monthly costs ($301 vs $484 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $452 in Gaighat and $725 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $301 per month in Gaighat versus $484 in Kathmandu – a 60% 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 60% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.