Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Dadeldhurā Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Dadeldhurā

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $497 per month in Kathmandu vs $392 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.

A couple spends around $791 per month in Kathmandu vs $654 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,084 per month in Kathmandu vs $916 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.87 NPR 285

-4.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 NPR 2,861

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 NPR 1,017

$6.41 NPR 975

4.21%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 292

$1.50 NPR 229

28.00%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.9

$0.50 NPR 75.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.05

$0.16 NPR 24.53

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 396

$2.53 NPR 385

2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 NPR 566

$3.62 NPR 552

2.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 NPR 136

$0.79 NPR 121

12.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 154

$0.76 NPR 116

32.89%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.68 NPR 255

6.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 NPR 1,397

$7.48 NPR 1,138

22.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 NPR 496

$3.20 NPR 486

1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 949

$6.26 NPR 952

-0.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 NPR 335

$2.29 NPR 349

-3.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 166

$1.10 NPR 167

-0.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.25 NPR 190

-0.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.9

$0.68 NPR 104

-5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.4

$0.49 NPR 74.1

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.69 NPR 104

4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 NPR 79.3

$0.49 NPR 74.4

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.41

$0.27 NPR 41.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 NPR 445

$2.95 NPR 449

-0.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 NPR 1,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 349

$2.25 NPR 343

1.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 NPR 509

$3.26 NPR 497

2.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.81

$0.17 NPR 26.23

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 NPR 341

$2.14 NPR 325

4.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 162

$0.81 NPR 123

32.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 NPR 539

$3.59 NPR 546

-1.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 193

$1.26 NPR 192

0.79%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

-2.45%

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

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

$40.2K NPR 6.1M

0.71%

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

$33.35 NPR 5,074

$26.84 NPR 4,084

24.25%

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

$4.74 NPR 722

$4.86 NPR 739

-2.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.57 NPR 1,457

$9.74 NPR 1,482

-1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.34 NPR 3,400

$18.24 NPR 2,776

22.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 489

$2.77 NPR 422

15.88%

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

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

$71.3 NPR 10.8K

29.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

$2,693 NPR 409.8K

41.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.77 NPR 3,769

$25.12 NPR 3,823

-1.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.44 NPR 4,328

$27.45 NPR 4,177

3.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 NPR 8,734

$44.94 NPR 6,838

27.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.43 NPR 6,000

$28.53 NPR 4,341

38.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.7K

$105 NPR 16.0K

86.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

$63.0 NPR 9,584

57.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.6K

$207 NPR 31.6K

66.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$146 NPR 22.2K

26.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 NPR 347.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,329 NPR 202.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 NPR 42.4K

$97.0 NPR 14.8K

186.96%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Dadeldhurā: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Kathmandu versus $105 in Dadeldhurā. 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 187% higher in Kathmandu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kathmandu versus $19.00 in Dadeldhurā. Groceries tell a different story – $156 in Kathmandu vs $133 in Dadeldhurā – so Dadeldhurā 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 Dadeldhurā: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kathmandu costs about 27% more than Dadeldhurā, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $746 per month in Kathmandu and $587 in Dadeldhurā. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dadeldhurā, 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 Dadeldhurā. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Kathmandu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $497 in Kathmandu and $392 in Dadeldhurā, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Dadeldhurā – 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 Dadeldhurā. 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.