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: $494 in Kathmandu versus $398 in Gaighat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $789 in Kathmandu versus $650 in Gaighat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,085 in Kathmandu versus $902 in Gaighat.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 24% more expensive than in Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 NPR 286

$1.84 NPR 283

1.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 NPR 2,915

$19.05 NPR 2,927

-0.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 NPR 1,008

Cappuccino

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.84 NPR 283

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

$0.54 NPR 83.3

$0.50 NPR 76.4

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 26.97

$0.19 NPR 29.27

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 409

$2.53 NPR 389

5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 544

$3.60 NPR 552

-1.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 132

$0.60 NPR 91.7

43.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 NPR 83.6

$0.21 NPR 32.11

157.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 155

$0.37 NPR 57.3

172.97%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.11 NPR 171

61.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 NPR 1,344

$8.73 NPR 1,342

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 477

$2.14 NPR 328

44.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 NPR 937

$2.98 NPR 457

104.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 348

$1.80 NPR 277

25.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 NPR 159

$1.09 NPR 167

-4.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 193

$0.70 NPR 108

78.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 108

$0.37 NPR 57.5

89.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 74.7

$0.34 NPR 52.8

44.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 NPR 112

$0.35 NPR 53.2

108.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.6

$0.52 NPR 80.1

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.92

$0.17 NPR 25.66

58.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 NPR 436

$2.22 NPR 341

27.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.66 NPR 1,330

$3.82 NPR 587

126.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 NPR 364

$1.49 NPR 229

59.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 NPR 496

$3.25 NPR 499

-0.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 35.47

$0.21 NPR 31.61

9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 NPR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 NPR 343

$2.20 NPR 338

1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 164

$1.05 NPR 162

1.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 NPR 565

$3.73 NPR 573

-1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 189

$1.27 NPR 195

-3.15%

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

$31.6K NPR 4.9M

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

-2.63%

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

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

$40.7K NPR 6.3M

-0.18%

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

$32.99 NPR 5,068

$32.60 NPR 5,008

1.20%

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

$4.73 NPR 727

$4.75 NPR 730

-0.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.72 NPR 1,494

$9.76 NPR 1,499

-0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.35 NPR 3,433

$18.38 NPR 2,824

21.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.18 NPR 1,103

Cinema Ticket

$3.24 NPR 498

$3.20 NPR 492

1.25%

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

$89.5 NPR 13.8K

$91.7 NPR 14.1K

-2.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,834 NPR 588.9K

$3,820 NPR 586.7K

0.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,762

$24.43 NPR 3,753

0.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.56 NPR 4,233

$28.49 NPR 4,377

-3.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.3 NPR 8,953

$58.6 NPR 9,005

-0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.85 NPR 5,967

$40.33 NPR 6,196

-3.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$194 NPR 29.8K

$107 NPR 16.4K

81.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 NPR 15.4K

$62.9 NPR 9,659

59.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 NPR 52.5K

$204 NPR 31.3K

67.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NPR 28.9K

$145 NPR 22.3K

29.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 NPR 348.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,322 NPR 203.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 NPR 42.6K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Gaighat: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $194 in Kathmandu and $107 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 24% in total monthly costs ($494 vs $398 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $741 in Kathmandu and $596 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: $194 in Kathmandu versus $107 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 $494 per month in Kathmandu versus $398 in Gaighat – a 24% 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 24% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.