Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Gaighat Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Gaighat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $496 in Kathmandu versus $396 in Gaighat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $788 in Kathmandu versus $643 in Gaighat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,080 in Kathmandu versus $890 in Gaighat.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 25% more expensive than Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Gaighat 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 270

$1.84 NPR 280

-3.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.02 NPR 2,895

$19.17 NPR 2,917

-0.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 NPR 1,015

$6.37 NPR 970

4.71%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NPR 278

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

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.53 NPR 81.0

-5.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 26.50

$0.18 NPR 27.01

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 NPR 389

$2.63 NPR 400

-2.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NPR 570

$3.58 NPR 545

4.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 131

$0.60 NPR 90.7

43.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 NPR 90.9

$0.23 NPR 35.09

160.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 NPR 151

$0.35 NPR 52.9

182.86%

Eggs

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.13 NPR 172

56.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 NPR 1,384

$8.82 NPR 1,343

3.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 473

$2.17 NPR 330

43.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.26 NPR 953

$2.88 NPR 438

117.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 NPR 332

$1.77 NPR 270

23.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 168

$1.08 NPR 165

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 NPR 187

$0.71 NPR 108

73.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.5

$0.38 NPR 57.4

71.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.4

$0.37 NPR 56.4

32.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 110

$0.35 NPR 53.1

105.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.71

$0.15 NPR 22.61

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 NPR 439

$2.14 NPR 325

35.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 NPR 1,182

$3.85 NPR 586

101.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 357

$1.48 NPR 226

58.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 NPR 507

$3.20 NPR 487

4.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.10

$0.18 NPR 28.13

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 NPR 337

$2.16 NPR 328

2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 NPR 167

$1.05 NPR 160

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 NPR 552

$3.68 NPR 560

-1.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 188

$1.28 NPR 195

-3.91%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

-0.54%

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

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

0.07%

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

$33.55 NPR 5,106

$32.56 NPR 4,956

3.04%

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

$5.01 NPR 763

$4.78 NPR 727

4.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.37 NPR 1,426

$9.52 NPR 1,449

-1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.42 NPR 3,413

$17.89 NPR 2,724

25.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

Cinema Ticket

$3.24 NPR 493

$3.25 NPR 494

-0.31%

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

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

$91.8 NPR 14.0K

1.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

$3,832 NPR 583.2K

0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.41 NPR 3,715

$25.04 NPR 3,811

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.40 NPR 4,322

$28.41 NPR 4,325

-0.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 NPR 8,907

$59.1 NPR 8,994

-0.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.72 NPR 6,046

$40.22 NPR 6,122

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.6K

$105 NPR 16.0K

84.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 NPR 15.2K

$64.0 NPR 9,744

56.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.7K

$208 NPR 31.6K

66.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NPR 28.7K

$146 NPR 22.2K

29.28%

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

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 Gaighat: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $105 in Gaighat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $19.00 in Gaighat. Groceries flip the comparison at $155 vs $107, with Gaighat cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gaighat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kathmandu and Gaighat differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($496 vs $396 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $744 in Kathmandu and $594 in Gaighat to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Kathmandu versus $105 in Gaighat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $496 per month in Kathmandu versus $396 in Gaighat – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Gaighat 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.

Safety-wise, Kathmandu and Gaighat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gaighat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.