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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $508 per month in Kathmandu vs $398 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.

A couple spends around $787 per month in Kathmandu vs $665 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,067 per month in Kathmandu vs $932 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 62% lower, Dadeldhurā 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.80 NPR 275

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.21 NPR 2,943

$18.88 NPR 2,892

1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 NPR 1,026

$6.45 NPR 988

3.88%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 294

$1.56 NPR 239

23.08%

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

$0.54 NPR 83.4

$0.54 NPR 82.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.67

$0.15 NPR 22.83

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 387

$2.64 NPR 404

-4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 542

$3.53 NPR 541

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 NPR 133

$0.74 NPR 114

17.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.4

$0.56 NPR 85.3

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 NPR 145

$0.80 NPR 123

18.75%

Eggs

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.65 NPR 253

11.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 NPR 1,412

$7.49 NPR 1,148

23.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 475

$3.24 NPR 496

-4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 925

$5.98 NPR 917

1.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 NPR 348

$2.18 NPR 333

4.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 NPR 166

$1.09 NPR 166

-0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 184

$1.24 NPR 191

-3.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 99.3

$0.64 NPR 98.1

1.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.2

$0.45 NPR 68.4

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.64 NPR 97.5

4.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 75.8

$0.50 NPR 76.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.55

$0.27 NPR 41.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 NPR 450

$2.93 NPR 449

0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 NPR 1,357

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 359

$2.34 NPR 358

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 501

$3.29 NPR 504

-0.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.10

$0.21 NPR 32.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,689

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 339

$2.14 NPR 328

3.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 163

$0.78 NPR 119

35.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 571

$3.62 NPR 554

3.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.28 NPR 197

-3.13%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.3K NPR 5.0M

-2.83%

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

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

$39.8K NPR 6.1M

3.83%

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

$33.18 NPR 5,083

$26.78 NPR 4,102

23.90%

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

$4.95 NPR 759

$4.85 NPR 743

2.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.65 NPR 1,478

$9.80 NPR 1,501

-1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.94 NPR 3,362

$18.12 NPR 2,776

21.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,142

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 492

$2.71 NPR 415

18.45%

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

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

$73.2 NPR 11.2K

24.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,763 NPR 576.5K

$2,735 NPR 419.0K

37.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,751

$24.39 NPR 3,736

0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 NPR 4,309

$27.76 NPR 4,253

1.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 NPR 9,066

$44.94 NPR 6,884

31.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.39 NPR 6,187

$28.57 NPR 4,377

41.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 NPR 30.3K

$106 NPR 16.2K

87.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

$64.4 NPR 9,860

53.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 NPR 52.7K

$205 NPR 31.3K

68.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.1K

$146 NPR 22.4K

25.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 357.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 NPR 41.2K

$98.0 NPR 15.0K

174.58%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Dadeldhurā: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Kathmandu versus $106 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 175% 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 – $157 in Kathmandu vs $131 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 $761 per month in Kathmandu and $597 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 20% 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 $508 in Kathmandu and $398 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.