Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $494 per month in Kathmandu vs $398 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $789 per month in Kathmandu vs $649 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,085 per month in Kathmandu vs $899 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

Kathmandu costs about 24% more than Bhaktapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kathmandu and Bhaktapur are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu 63% lower, Bhaktapur 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 NPR 286

$1.79 NPR 274

3.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 NPR 2,915

$18.73 NPR 2,878

1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 NPR 1,008

$3.71 NPR 570

76.82%

Cappuccino

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.05 NPR 161

75.24%

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

$0.54 NPR 83.3

$0.51 NPR 77.6

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 26.97

$0.13 NPR 20.73

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 409

$1.86 NPR 285

43.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 544

$1.78 NPR 273

98.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 132

$0.69 NPR 106

24.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 NPR 83.6

$0.50 NPR 77.3

8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 155

$0.95 NPR 146

6.32%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.83 NPR 281

-2.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 NPR 1,344

$3.61 NPR 554

142.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 477

$3.09 NPR 475

0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 NPR 937

$6.00 NPR 921

1.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 348

$2.25 NPR 346

0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 NPR 159

$1.05 NPR 161

-0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 193

$1.20 NPR 184

4.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 108

$0.70 NPR 107

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.7

$0.52 NPR 79.6

-5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 NPR 112

$0.67 NPR 103

8.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.6

$0.38 NPR 58.8

28.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.92

$0.23 NPR 35.38

17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 NPR 436

$2.86 NPR 440

-0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.66 NPR 1,330

$6.02 NPR 924

43.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 NPR 364

$2.08 NPR 320

13.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 NPR 496

$2.62 NPR 402

23.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.47

$0.16 NPR 24.59

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 NPR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 NPR 343

$2.22 NPR 340

0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 164

$1.06 NPR 163

0.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 NPR 565

$3.61 NPR 555

1.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 189

$1.27 NPR 195

-3.15%

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

$31.6K NPR 4.9M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

0.53%

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

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

$40.4K NPR 6.2M

0.59%

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

$32.99 NPR 5,068

$33.31 NPR 5,116

-0.96%

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

$4.73 NPR 727

$4.98 NPR 764

-5.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.72 NPR 1,494

$9.73 NPR 1,494

-0.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.35 NPR 3,433

$18.27 NPR 2,806

22.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.18 NPR 1,103

Cinema Ticket

$3.24 NPR 498

$3.05 NPR 469

6.23%

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

$89.5 NPR 13.8K

$18.07 NPR 2,776

395.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,834 NPR 588.9K

$3,811 NPR 585.4K

0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,762

$18.41 NPR 2,828

33.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 NPR 4,233

$28.10 NPR 4,317

-1.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.3 NPR 8,953

$58.7 NPR 9,022

-0.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.85 NPR 5,967

$40.21 NPR 6,177

-3.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$194 NPR 29.8K

$106 NPR 16.3K

82.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 NPR 15.4K

$64.3 NPR 9,875

56.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 NPR 52.5K

$204 NPR 31.3K

67.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NPR 28.9K

$145 NPR 22.3K

29.63%

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 Kathmandu: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bhaktapur: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Kathmandu versus $106 in Bhaktapur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kathmandu versus $19.00 in Bhaktapur. Groceries tell a different story – $155 in Kathmandu vs $128 in Bhaktapur – so Bhaktapur wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bhaktapur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kathmandu is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $741 per month in Kathmandu and $597 in Bhaktapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhaktapur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $494 in Kathmandu and $398 in Bhaktapur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $89.5 per month in Kathmandu and $18.07 in Bhaktapur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $494 in Kathmandu and $398 in Bhaktapur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bhaktapur – 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 Bhaktapur. 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.