Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Biratnagar Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Biratnagar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $496 in Kathmandu versus $387 in Biratnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $788 in Kathmandu versus $644 in Biratnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,080 in Kathmandu versus $901 in Biratnagar.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 28% more expensive than Biratnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Biratnagar 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 270

$1.66 NPR 253

6.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.02 NPR 2,895

$17.92 NPR 2,728

6.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 NPR 1,015

$8.42 NPR 1,282

-20.78%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NPR 278

$1.50 NPR 229

22.00%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.38 NPR 57.4

31.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 26.50

$0.20 NPR 29.71

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 NPR 389

$1.61 NPR 246

59.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NPR 570

$2.58 NPR 392

44.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 131

$0.68 NPR 103

26.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 NPR 90.9

$0.43 NPR 65.1

39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 NPR 151

$0.71 NPR 107

39.44%

Eggs

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.40 NPR 213

26.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 NPR 1,384

$5.24 NPR 797

73.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 473

$2.93 NPR 447

6.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.26 NPR 953

$3.39 NPR 516

84.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 NPR 332

$2.23 NPR 340

-2.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 168

$0.84 NPR 128

30.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 NPR 187

$1.49 NPR 226

-17.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.5

$0.58 NPR 88.4

12.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.4

$0.40 NPR 61.0

22.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 110

$0.52 NPR 78.8

38.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.4

$0.53 NPR 80.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.71

$0.32 NPR 48.20

-21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 NPR 439

$2.86 NPR 435

1.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 NPR 1,182

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 357

$2.29 NPR 349

2.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 NPR 507

$3.29 NPR 501

1.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.10

$0.15 NPR 23.07

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

$12.94 NPR 1,969

-16.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 NPR 337

$2.19 NPR 334

1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 NPR 167

$0.82 NPR 125

34.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 NPR 552

$2.50 NPR 381

45.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 188

$1.25 NPR 190

-1.60%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

1.55%

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

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

$39.9K NPR 6.1M

2.85%

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

$33.55 NPR 5,106

$26.64 NPR 4,055

25.94%

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

$5.01 NPR 763

$4.72 NPR 719

6.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.37 NPR 1,426

$10.10 NPR 1,538

-7.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.42 NPR 3,413

$18.54 NPR 2,821

20.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

$2.17 NPR 330

234.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.24 NPR 493

$3.43 NPR 522

-5.54%

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

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

$53.4 NPR 8,128

74.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

$1,968 NPR 299.6K

95.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.41 NPR 3,715

$25.03 NPR 3,811

-2.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.40 NPR 4,322

$35.75 NPR 5,441

-20.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 NPR 8,907

$27.21 NPR 4,142

115.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.72 NPR 6,046

$32.65 NPR 4,970

21.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.6K

$106 NPR 16.2K

83.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 NPR 15.2K

$58.6 NPR 8,917

70.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.7K

$206 NPR 31.3K

68.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NPR 28.7K

$142 NPR 21.7K

32.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,312 NPR 351.9K

$388 NPR 59.0K

496.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 NPR 206.1K

$261 NPR 39.7K

418.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.8K

$164 NPR 25.0K

67.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-13.71%

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

Last update for Kathmandu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Biratnagar: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $106 in Biratnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $18.00 in Biratnagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $111 per month, with Biratnagar cheaper across the board.

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 Biratnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Biratnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Kathmandu pays 67% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Kathmandu versus $106 in Biratnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Biratnagar – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Biratnagar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Biratnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.