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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Kathmandu vs $296 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A couple spends around $773 per month in Kathmandu vs $499 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,063 per month in Kathmandu vs $702 in Bhaktapur, rent included.

Kathmandu costs about 63% more than Bhaktapur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kathmandu and Bhaktapur are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu 65% lower, Bhaktapur 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 294

$1.95 NPR 294

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.08 NPR 3,038

$20.72 NPR 3,135

-3.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 NPR 1,020

$3.21 NPR 486

109.97%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 234

$0.88 NPR 133

75.00%

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

$0.56 NPR 84.4

$0.54 NPR 82.3

3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.03

$0.13 NPR 20.15

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 NPR 489

$1.61 NPR 243

100.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 NPR 556

$1.66 NPR 251

121.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 115

$0.66 NPR 99.3

15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 95.2

$0.49 NPR 74.4

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 130

$0.88 NPR 133

-2.27%

Eggs

$1.69 NPR 256

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 NPR 1,098

$3.37 NPR 511

115.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 NPR 515

$3.38 NPR 512

0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 NPR 788

$5.29 NPR 801

-1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 NPR 313

$2.03 NPR 308

1.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 NPR 174

$1.10 NPR 166

4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 NPR 213

$1.29 NPR 195

9.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 86.7

$0.55 NPR 82.6

3.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 58.1

$0.42 NPR 63.5

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.0

$0.52 NPR 78.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.6

$0.37 NPR 56.6

32.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.98

$0.18 NPR 27.58

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NPR 408

$2.61 NPR 394

3.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 NPR 1,201

$5.91 NPR 893

34.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 NPR 337

$2.34 NPR 355

-4.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 NPR 454

$1.69 NPR 255

77.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 NPR 305

$1.91 NPR 289

5.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 NPR 203

$1.34 NPR 202

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 503

$3.32 NPR 502

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 NPR 213

$1.36 NPR 206

3.68%

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

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

$29.7K NPR 4.5M

-0.81%

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

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

$36.7K NPR 5.6M

-0.41%

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

$31.68 NPR 4,793

$32.14 NPR 4,862

-1.43%

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

$3.38 NPR 511

$3.37 NPR 510

0.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.12 NPR 1,228

$7.71 NPR 1,167

5.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,406

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 NPR 451

$3.03 NPR 459

-1.65%

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

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

$67.1 NPR 10.2K

-0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

$4,747 NPR 718.2K

1.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 NPR 3,990

$26.79 NPR 4,053

-1.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.67 NPR 4,337

$28.57 NPR 4,322

0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 NPR 9,967

$67.5 NPR 10.2K

-2.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.44 NPR 4,605

$29.72 NPR 4,497

2.42%

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 30.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,289 NPR 346.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.6K

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 Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Last update for Bhaktapur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kathmandu versus $21.00 in Bhaktapur. Groceries tell a different story – $144 in Kathmandu vs $122 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 63%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $725 per month in Kathmandu and $445 in Bhaktapur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $484 in Kathmandu and $296 in Bhaktapur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $67.1 per month in Kathmandu and $67.1 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 $484 in Kathmandu and $296 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.