Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Dharan

For one person, living is cheaper in Dharan: $58.8 a month against $488 in Kathmandu, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 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

$488

/mo nomad

Dharan

🇳🇵 Nepal

$58.8

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kathmandu and in Dharan

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 Dharan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $488 per month in Kathmandu vs $59 in Dharan, rent included.

Kathmandu $488
Dharan $59

A couple spends around $783 per month in Kathmandu vs $93 in Dharan, rent included.

Kathmandu $783
Dharan $93

A family of three spends $1,077 per month in Kathmandu vs $127 in Dharan, rent included.

Kathmandu $1,077
Dharan $127

Kathmandu costs about 730% more than Dharan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kathmandu and Dharan are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu 64% lower, Dharan 96% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.92 NPR 291

$2.01 NPR 305

-4.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.72 NPR 3,151

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 NPR 1,067

Cappuccino

$1.56 NPR 237

$1.65 NPR 251

-5.45%

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

$0.51 NPR 78.3

$0.37 NPR 56.8

37.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 20.90

$0.14 NPR 20.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 NPR 472

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 NPR 504

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 NPR 118

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 NPR 94.0

$0.42 NPR 63.6

47.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 140

Eggs

$1.74 NPR 264

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 NPR 1,143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 472

$2.58 NPR 392

20.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 NPR 910

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 NPR 317

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 181

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 NPR 220

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 NPR 89.4

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 58.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 NPR 81.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 75.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 NPR 33.25

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 NPR 374

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 NPR 1,211

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 349

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 NPR 459

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 NPR 26.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.75 NPR 1,483

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 NPR 273

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 NPR 176

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 NPR 506

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 NPR 211

$1.14 NPR 173

21.93%

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)

$35.9K NPR 5.5M

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

$31.31 NPR 4,761

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

$3.58 NPR 545

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.30 NPR 1,413

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.50 NPR 3,726

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.97 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$2.94 NPR 447

$1.93 NPR 293

52.33%

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

$66.9 NPR 10.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,521 NPR 839.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.85 NPR 3,627

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 NPR 4,070

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 NPR 9,525

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.36 NPR 4,465

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 NPR 33.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 NPR 65.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 NPR 30.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,336 NPR 355.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 NPR 202.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 NPR 40.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.98

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

Last update for Kathmandu: October 24, 2026

Last update for Dharan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Kathmandu

$147 30.2%

Dharan

–

Accommodation & Living

Kathmandu

$104 21.4%

Dharan

–

Eating Out

Kathmandu

$80 16.4%

Dharan

–

Clothing & Footwear

Kathmandu

$64 13.2%

Dharan

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kathmandu

$44 9.1%

Dharan

–

Sport & Entertainment

Kathmandu

$30 6.2%

Dharan

–

Getting Around

Kathmandu

$18 3.7%

Dharan

–

Good to know

🇳🇵 Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Dharan

🕒 Local time

22:07 10:07 PM

Same time as Kathmandu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

975,000 Capital

173,096

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.58 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.91 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.58 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.91 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Dharan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kathmandu costs about 730% more than Dharan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $732 per month in Kathmandu and $88 in Dharan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $488 in Kathmandu and $59 in Dharan. That’s a gap of about 730%.

Groceries cost about 763% 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 $488 in Kathmandu and $59 in Dharan, 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 $59 in Dharan to $488 in Kathmandu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.