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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $496 per month in Kathmandu vs $389 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $788 per month in Kathmandu vs $639 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,080 per month in Kathmandu vs $890 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

Kathmandu costs about 27% more than Bhaktapur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kathmandu and Bhaktapur are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu 63% lower, Bhaktapur 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 270

$1.86 NPR 283

-4.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.02 NPR 2,895

$18.80 NPR 2,861

1.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 NPR 1,015

$3.72 NPR 566

79.30%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NPR 278

$1.01 NPR 153

81.19%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.53 NPR 81.3

-5.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 26.50

$0.14 NPR 21.17

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 NPR 389

$1.87 NPR 284

36.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NPR 570

$1.84 NPR 281

103.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 131

$0.71 NPR 108

21.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 NPR 90.9

$0.51 NPR 77.6

17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 NPR 151

$0.98 NPR 149

1.02%

Eggs

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.86 NPR 283

-4.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 NPR 1,384

$3.75 NPR 570

142.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 473

$3.12 NPR 475

-0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.26 NPR 953

$5.96 NPR 907

5.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 NPR 332

$2.27 NPR 345

-3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 168

$1.04 NPR 159

5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 NPR 187

$1.24 NPR 189

-0.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.5

$0.70 NPR 106

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.4

$0.48 NPR 73.5

2.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 110

$0.67 NPR 103

7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.4

$0.41 NPR 62.9

29.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.71

$0.23 NPR 35.13

8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 NPR 439

$2.83 NPR 431

2.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 NPR 1,182

$5.90 NPR 899

31.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 357

$2.14 NPR 326

9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 NPR 507

$2.50 NPR 380

33.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.10

$0.16 NPR 23.62

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 NPR 337

$2.12 NPR 323

4.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 NPR 167

$1.11 NPR 168

-0.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 NPR 552

$3.67 NPR 559

-1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 188

$1.24 NPR 188

-0.81%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

1.85%

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

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

$40.3K NPR 6.1M

1.74%

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

$33.55 NPR 5,106

$33.45 NPR 5,091

0.30%

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

$5.01 NPR 763

$4.74 NPR 721

5.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.37 NPR 1,426

$9.60 NPR 1,461

-2.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.42 NPR 3,413

$17.98 NPR 2,737

24.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

Cinema Ticket

$3.24 NPR 493

$3.06 NPR 467

5.88%

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

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

$17.99 NPR 2,738

416.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

$3,701 NPR 563.3K

3.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.41 NPR 3,715

$17.98 NPR 2,737

35.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.40 NPR 4,322

$27.84 NPR 4,238

2.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 NPR 8,907

$59.0 NPR 8,979

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.72 NPR 6,046

$39.93 NPR 6,078

-0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.6K

$106 NPR 16.1K

83.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 NPR 15.2K

$63.2 NPR 9,626

58.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.7K

$207 NPR 31.4K

67.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NPR 28.7K

$146 NPR 22.3K

28.85%

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 Kathmandu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bhaktapur: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 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 $129 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 27%, 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 $744 per month in Kathmandu and $583 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 $496 in Kathmandu and $389 in Bhaktapur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $93.0 per month in Kathmandu and $17.99 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 $496 in Kathmandu and $389 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.