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: $396 in Gaighat versus $496 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $643 in Gaighat versus $788 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $890 in Gaighat versus $1,080 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 280

$1.77 NPR 270

3.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.17 NPR 2,917

$19.02 NPR 2,895

0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.37 NPR 970

$6.67 NPR 1,015

-4.50%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NPR 278

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

$0.53 NPR 81.0

$0.50 NPR 76.4

6.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.01

$0.17 NPR 26.50

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 NPR 400

$2.56 NPR 389

2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 NPR 545

$3.74 NPR 570

-4.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.60 NPR 90.7

$0.86 NPR 131

-30.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 NPR 35.09

$0.60 NPR 90.9

-61.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.35 NPR 52.9

$0.99 NPR 151

-64.65%

Eggs

$1.13 NPR 172

$1.77 NPR 269

-36.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.82 NPR 1,343

$9.10 NPR 1,384

-3.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.17 NPR 330

$3.11 NPR 473

-30.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 NPR 438

$6.26 NPR 953

-53.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 NPR 270

$2.18 NPR 332

-18.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 NPR 165

$1.10 NPR 168

-1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 NPR 108

$1.23 NPR 187

-42.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 57.4

$0.65 NPR 98.5

-41.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.37 NPR 56.4

$0.49 NPR 74.4

-24.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 NPR 53.1

$0.72 NPR 110

-51.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 22.61

$0.25 NPR 37.71

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 NPR 325

$2.89 NPR 439

-25.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.85 NPR 586

$7.77 NPR 1,182

-50.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 NPR 226

$2.35 NPR 357

-37.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 NPR 487

$3.33 NPR 507

-3.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 NPR 28.13

$0.23 NPR 35.10

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 NPR 328

$2.22 NPR 337

-2.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 NPR 160

$1.10 NPR 167

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 NPR 560

$3.63 NPR 552

1.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 NPR 195

$1.23 NPR 188

4.07%

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

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

0.54%

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

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

-0.07%

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

$32.56 NPR 4,956

$33.55 NPR 5,106

-2.95%

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

$4.78 NPR 727

$5.01 NPR 763

-4.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.52 NPR 1,449

$9.37 NPR 1,426

1.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.89 NPR 2,724

$22.42 NPR 3,413

-20.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 NPR 494

$3.24 NPR 493

0.31%

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

$91.8 NPR 14.0K

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

-1.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,832 NPR 583.2K

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

-0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.04 NPR 3,811

$24.41 NPR 3,715

2.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 NPR 4,325

$28.40 NPR 4,322

0.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 NPR 8,994

$58.5 NPR 8,907

0.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.22 NPR 6,122

$39.72 NPR 6,046

1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 NPR 16.0K

$195 NPR 29.6K

-45.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.0 NPR 9,744

$100 NPR 15.2K

-36.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 NPR 31.6K

$346 NPR 52.7K

-40.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.2K

$188 NPR 28.7K

-22.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,312 NPR 351.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 NPR 206.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.8K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Gaighat and $195 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 25% in total monthly costs ($396 vs $496 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $594 in Gaighat and $744 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: $105 in Gaighat versus $195 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 $396 per month in Gaighat versus $496 in Kathmandu – a 25% 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 25% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.