Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Bhimdatta

For one person, living is cheaper in Bhimdatta: $255 a month against $496 in Kathmandu, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Kathmandu
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Kathmandu Living Index

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Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Nepal

$496

/mo nomad

Bhimdatta

🇳🇵 Nepal

$255

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kathmandu and in Bhimdatta

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kathmandu and in Bhimdatta actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $496 per month in Kathmandu vs $255 in Bhimdatta, rent included.

Kathmandu $496
Bhimdatta $255

A couple spends around $795 per month in Kathmandu vs $366 in Bhimdatta, rent included.

Kathmandu $795
Bhimdatta $366

A family of three spends $1,094 per month in Kathmandu vs $476 in Bhimdatta, rent included.

Kathmandu $1,094
Bhimdatta $476

Kathmandu costs about 94% more than Bhimdatta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kathmandu and Bhimdatta are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu 63% lower, Bhimdatta 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 NPR 307

$0.69 NPR 105

194.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.67 NPR 3,281

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 NPR 1,199

Cappuccino

$1.56 NPR 235

$0.77 NPR 116

102.60%

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

$0.56 NPR 84.3

$0.34 NPR 52.1

64.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.12

$0.16 NPR 23.83

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 NPR 471

$1.03 NPR 157

201.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 NPR 513

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 114

$0.54 NPR 81.1

40.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 95.3

$0.27 NPR 41.04

133.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 NPR 143

$0.34 NPR 52.1

176.47%

Eggs

$1.70 NPR 258

$1.20 NPR 181

41.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.70 NPR 1,166

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 NPR 480

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.72 NPR 866

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 NPR 306

$1.63 NPR 246

23.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 NPR 176

$0.82 NPR 124

41.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 NPR 202

$0.81 NPR 123

65.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 NPR 83.1

$0.24 NPR 36.39

129.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 58.6

$0.24 NPR 36.50

62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 NPR 82.8

$0.40 NPR 61.2

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 NPR 73.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.24 NPR 36.43

$0.29 NPR 43.87

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 NPR 398

Wine (Bottle)

$9.00 NPR 1,363

$3.25 NPR 492

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 NPR 333

$1.02 NPR 155

115.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 NPR 466

$2.90 NPR 439

6.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 NPR 33.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.88 NPR 1,496

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 NPR 255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 NPR 185

$0.34 NPR 52.0

258.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 NPR 492

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 NPR 215

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

$35.7K NPR 5.4M

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

$36.2K NPR 5.5M

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

$31.50 NPR 4,769

$100 NPR 15.2K

-68.53%

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

$3.53 NPR 534

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.96 NPR 1,356

$6.75 NPR 1,022

32.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.91 NPR 3,771

$16.61 NPR 2,516

49.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,061

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 NPR 437

$1.94 NPR 293

48.97%

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

$67.5 NPR 10.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K NPR 2.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.64 NPR 3,277

$19.40 NPR 2,937

11.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.51 NPR 4,014

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 NPR 9,549

$20.00 NPR 3,029

215.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.01 NPR 4,241

$13.12 NPR 1,987

113.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 NPR 35.3K

$33.40 NPR 5,058

598.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 NPR 16.4K

$26.49 NPR 4,011

309.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 NPR 67.2K

$129 NPR 19.6K

243.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 NPR 31.4K

$111 NPR 16.8K

86.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,324 NPR 351.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,315 NPR 199.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 NPR 43.1K

$332 NPR 50.3K

-14.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.98

99.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kathmandu: October 31, 2026

Last update for Bhimdatta: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Kathmandu

$148 29.8%

Bhimdatta

–

Accommodation & Living

Kathmandu

$109 21.9%

Bhimdatta

–

Eating Out

Kathmandu

$84 16.9%

Bhimdatta

–

Clothing & Footwear

Kathmandu

$63 12.6%

Bhimdatta

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kathmandu

$44 8.9%

Bhimdatta

–

Sport & Entertainment

Kathmandu

$31 6.2%

Bhimdatta

–

Getting Around

Kathmandu

$19 3.7%

Bhimdatta

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Kathmandu versus $33 in Bhimdatta. 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 17% higher in Bhimdatta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know

🇳🇵 Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Bhimdatta

🕒 Local time

15:20 3:20 PM

Same time as Kathmandu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

975,000 Capital

104,444

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.6 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.88 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.6 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.88 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Kathmandu Bhimdatta 520 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Kathmandu
Bhimdatta

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bhimdatta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $496 in Kathmandu, $255 in Bhimdatta – Bhimdatta comes out roughly 49% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $744 per month in Kathmandu and $383 in Bhimdatta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bhimdatta, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $33 there versus $233 in Kathmandu.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $496 in Kathmandu and $255 in Bhimdatta. That makes Bhimdatta about 49% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 173% more in Kathmandu, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $496 in Kathmandu and $255 in Bhimdatta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Kathmandu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $255 in Bhimdatta to $496 in Kathmandu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.