😐A single person spends $501 per month in Kathmandu vs $441 in Alexandria, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $782 per month in Kathmandu vs $721 in Alexandria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,063 per month in Kathmandu vs $1,000 in Alexandria, rent included.
😐Kathmandu costs about 13% more than Alexandria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Kathmandu and Alexandria are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu63% lower, Alexandria67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78NPR 266
$3.51E£182
-49.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.20NPR 2,862
$15.97E£830
20.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65NPR 991
$4.52E£235
47.12%
Cappuccino
$1.90NPR 284
$1.50E£78.1
26.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49NPR 73.8
$0.29E£14.82
68.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15NPR 22.74
$0.10E£4.97
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55NPR 380
$1.18E£61.2
116.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NPR 540
$2.88E£150
25.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89NPR 132
$0.85E£44.06
4.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54NPR 80.8
$0.79E£41.05
-31.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94NPR 139
$0.67E£34.75
40.30%
Eggs
$1.77NPR 264
$1.39E£72.2
27.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22NPR 1,375
$3.97E£206
132.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12NPR 465
$4.55E£236
-31.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.05NPR 902
$9.53E£495
-36.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NPR 326
$1.49E£77.4
46.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 162
$0.54E£28.01
101.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NPR 187
$0.43E£22.14
190.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65NPR 96.4
$0.40E£20.67
62.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49NPR 72.8
$0.41E£21.04
19.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72NPR 107
$0.40E£21.01
80.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50NPR 74.0
$0.24E£12.48
108.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25NPR 36.92
$0.17E£8.83
47.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85NPR 425
$1.93E£100
47.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.66NPR 993
$4.65E£241
43.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NPR 350
$1.40E£72.7
67.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35NPR 499
$2.68E£139
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23NPR 34.39
$0.15E£7.64
53.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.79NPR 1,608
$13.99E£726
-22.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21NPR 329
$0.53E£27.51
316.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07NPR 159
$0.42E£21.84
154.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.67NPR 546
$1.96E£102
87.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26NPR 188
$0.33E£17.19
281.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KNPR 4.7M
$35.1KE£1.8M
-9.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2KNPR 6.1M
$33.4KE£1.7M
23.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.83NPR 4,894
$11.33E£588
189.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.00NPR 746
$5.86E£304
-14.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.86NPR 1,469
$10.06E£522
-1.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.99NPR 3,277
$13.28E£690
65.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17NPR 1,069
$7.06E£367
1.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32NPR 494
$3.03E£157
9.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0NPR 13.9K
$87.0E£4,516
6.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,703NPR 552.0K
$1,816E£94.3K
103.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.62NPR 3,670
$27.13E£1,409
-9.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.47NPR 4,095
$48.57E£2,523
-43.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.3NPR 8,688
$107E£5,532
-45.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.32NPR 6,010
$51.0E£2,650
-20.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192NPR 28.6K
$108E£5,596
78.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.7NPR 14.9K
$65.9E£3,422
51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347NPR 51.8K
$244E£12.7K
42.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189NPR 28.2K
$135E£7,024
39.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,382NPR 355.1K
$646E£33.6K
268.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,359NPR 202.6K
$439E£22.8K
209.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kathmandu
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$241NPR 36.0K
$123E£6,387
96.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
17
-28.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kathmandu: April 14, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $192 in Kathmandu versus $108 in Alexandria. 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 96% higher in Kathmandu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Kathmandu versus $16 in Alexandria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $129 – making Alexandria 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
Kathmandu vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kathmandu or Alexandria?
Kathmandu costs about 13% more than Alexandria, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kathmandu vs Alexandria?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $751 per month in Kathmandu and $662 in Alexandria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kathmandu or Alexandria?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alexandria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Kathmandu and Alexandria?
Kindergarten costs $93.0 per month in Kathmandu and $87.0 in Alexandria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kathmandu or Alexandria?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Kathmandu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Kathmandu or Alexandria?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $501 in Kathmandu and $441 in Alexandria, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Alexandria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Kathmandu or Alexandria?
If budget matters most, go with Alexandria. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kathmandu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.