Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Bhimdatta Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Bhimdatta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $496 per month in Kathmandu vs $403 in Bhimdatta, rent included.

A couple spends around $788 per month in Kathmandu vs $653 in Bhimdatta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,080 per month in Kathmandu vs $902 in Bhimdatta, rent included.

Kathmandu costs about 23% more than Bhimdatta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 270

$0.74 NPR 113

139.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.02 NPR 2,895

$19.20 NPR 2,923

-0.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 NPR 1,015

$6.69 NPR 1,018

-0.30%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NPR 278

$1.55 NPR 236

18.06%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.53 NPR 81.2

-5.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 26.50

$0.15 NPR 22.46

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 NPR 389

$2.66 NPR 404

-3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NPR 570

$3.59 NPR 547

4.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 131

$0.60 NPR 91.5

43.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 NPR 90.9

$0.55 NPR 83.6

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 NPR 151

$0.75 NPR 115

32.00%

Eggs

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.71 NPR 260

3.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 NPR 1,384

$7.40 NPR 1,127

22.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 473

$3.22 NPR 491

-3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.26 NPR 953

$5.96 NPR 907

5.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 NPR 332

$2.20 NPR 335

-0.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 168

$1.09 NPR 167

0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 NPR 187

$1.20 NPR 183

2.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.5

$0.69 NPR 105

-5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.4

$0.49 NPR 74.8

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 110

$0.68 NPR 104

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.4

$0.53 NPR 81.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.71

$0.25 NPR 37.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 NPR 439

$2.94 NPR 448

-1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 NPR 1,182

$3.20 NPR 487

142.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 357

$2.24 NPR 341

4.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 NPR 507

$3.30 NPR 502

0.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.10

$0.22 NPR 33.90

4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 NPR 337

$2.14 NPR 326

3.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 NPR 167

$0.81 NPR 123

35.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 NPR 552

$3.61 NPR 549

0.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 188

$1.27 NPR 193

-3.15%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$31.8K NPR 4.8M

0.54%

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

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

$40.8K NPR 6.2M

0.44%

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

$33.55 NPR 5,106

$26.10 NPR 3,973

28.54%

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

$5.01 NPR 763

$4.93 NPR 750

1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.37 NPR 1,426

$9.56 NPR 1,455

-1.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.42 NPR 3,413

$17.93 NPR 2,729

25.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

Cinema Ticket

$3.24 NPR 493

$2.79 NPR 425

16.13%

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

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

$71.5 NPR 10.9K

30.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

$2,793 NPR 425.2K

37.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.41 NPR 3,715

$24.70 NPR 3,759

-1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.40 NPR 4,322

$27.75 NPR 4,223

2.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 NPR 8,907

$45.21 NPR 6,881

29.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.72 NPR 6,046

$28.36 NPR 4,317

40.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.6K

$104 NPR 15.8K

87.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 NPR 15.2K

$63.9 NPR 9,722

56.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.7K

$203 NPR 30.9K

70.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NPR 28.7K

$144 NPR 21.8K

31.34%

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

$325 NPR 49.5K

-15.47%

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 Bhimdatta: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Kathmandu versus $104 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 18% higher in Bhimdatta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kathmandu versus $19.00 in Bhimdatta. Groceries tell a different story – $155 in Kathmandu vs $136 in Bhimdatta – so Bhimdatta 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 Bhimdatta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $496 in Kathmandu, $403 in Bhimdatta – roughly 23% apart. Kathmandu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $744 per month in Kathmandu and $605 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kathmandu and $19.00 in Bhimdatta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Kathmandu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $496 in Kathmandu and $403 in Bhimdatta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bhimdatta – 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 Bhimdatta. 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.